Date: March 31, 2006
Contact: Kelly Griffith, Marketing Manager
Phone: (612) 492-7514
Email: kgriffith@fredlaw.com

Jim Baillie Receives William Reece Smith Jr. Special Services to Pro Bono Award

Jim Baillie was presented with the William Reece Smith Jr. Special Services to Pro Bono Award at the Equal Justice Conference in Philadelphia on Friday, March 31. This award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding commitments to, and made positive impacts upon, the institutions or systems of providing pro bono legal services. The Reece is intended to recognize the efforts of those who, on a national, regional or state wide basis, bring about innovations, generate support for, provide assistance to or have other positive influence on the systems or networks of providing legal services.

Jim Baillie, through his work with the American Bar Association and as past-President of the Minnesota Bar Association, has worked tirelessly to increase awareness of the need for additional funding to support pro bono programs, has challenged firms to continue to support their commitment to pro bono, and has led the state bar of Minnesota to lead the nation in support of legal services lawyers who were impacted by Katrina and Rita. His creativity in solving problems in a straight-forward, innovative manner has earned Jim this well-deserved recognition. We all applaud Jim's commitment to striving to provide programs that ensure "Equal Justice Under Law" to every citizen.