Boise, ID — Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that its Boise office has received the Idaho Law Foundation’s 6.1 Challenge Award in the large law firm category. The 6.1 Challenge, which is named after Idaho Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1, encourages and recognizes by size of employing organization the pro bono and public service activities of members of Idaho’s Fourth District Bar. The office, which also won the 6.1 Challenge in 2015, was recognized at the Law Day Reception & Access to Justice Kickoff on May 1 in Boise.
6.1 Challenge applications were reviewed by a panel of members that included federal and state judiciary members and local community leaders who evaluated the type and quality of the pro bono activities, the percentage of attorneys participating, and the number of hours contributed to the community. Awards were given in the categories of small firm, large firm, solo practitioner and government law office.
Idaho Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 states, “Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay.”
Boise office attorneys provided more than 1200 hours of pro bono representation in the past year. Of special note are Anna Courtney, Nicole Hancock, Wendy Olson and Christopher Pooser, each of whom performed more than 150 hours of pro bono work. Olson recently prevailed in a pro bono case over the operation of group foster homes – for more information, click here.
Stoel Rives is committed to providing pro bono services in our communities. Each attorney is expected to work toward a goal of 50 hours of pro bono service per year, the majority of which should be given to persons of limited means or organizations designed to address the needs of such persons. The firm gives billable credit up to 50 hours of pro bono service and considers the pro bono service of each attorney in making compensation decisions. More on the firm’s pro bono policy can be found here.