Frost Law’s Pro Bono Department was established in 2019 by Partner, Kaitlyn Loughner, Esq., CPA, and Tax Director, Rebecca Sheppard, Esq. As Co-Chairs, Kaitlyn and Rebecca have expanded the firm’s involvement in local Maryland communities while also enhancing other like-minded professionals' ability to deliver essential legal tax assistance to those that need it.
Frost Law is an active partner with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service and the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland. Our tax and legal team delivers training opportunities that equip professionals to effectively take on pro bono cases and provide this much-needed access to justice to underserved members of the community.
Frost Law’s Pro Bono Department efforts to empower other attorneys have led to recognition and awards from multiple organizations. In 2020 the Maryland Volunteer
Lawyers Service named Frost Law as the Law Firm of the Year (Acceptance Video 12:41) for embracing pro bono and providing access to justice for many of the MVLS clients. In 2021 the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland recognized the firm with the Law Firm Pro Bono Service Award for our innovative approaches to the delivery of free legal services and the encouragement of participation from firm attorneys. Rebecca Sheppard, Esq. was also individually awarded the J. Ronald Shiff Pro Bono Award for her commitment to providing legal services to low-income taxpayers.
Recruiting pro bono volunteers is challenging, especially during the pandemic. Yet many Low Income Tax Clinics rely on pro bono attorneys in order to assist as many taxpayers as possible. Join the May Gardenside chat, which will focus on how to build a pro bono panel, including where to recruit pro bono assistance, effective recruitment pitches, and how to retain volunteers. Panelists will also discuss the new LITC Connect from the Center for Taxpayer Rights, a “dating app” that connects LITCs with tax professionals interested in volunteering with LITCs.
Speakers: Nina Olson, Executive Director, Center for Taxpayer Rights | Barbara Heggie, 603 Legal Aid | Zahra Salih, Erie County Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc.