Volunteer of the Month – February 2017

Firm: Kinser & Bates, L.L.P.

Kathy Kinser practices family law at Kinser & Bates, L.L.P. She first got involved with DVAP when Ken Fuller started recruiting family law attorneys to help pro bono clients with uncontested divorces. Kathy Kinser practices family law at Kinser & Bates, L.L.P. She first got involved with DVAP when Ken Fuller started recruiting family law attorneys to help pro bono clients with uncontested divorces. Ken made it clear that the biggest need was in the family law area and all family lawyers, regardless of their years of experience, needed to step up. At first, she accepted cases that Ken personally requested that she take. After referral paralegal Whitney Breheny started sending regular e-mails about cases, she started trying to take the ones that needed an experienced attorney to help. She tries to take the cases Whitney cannot place, or locate one of her colleagues to do so. Her goal is that no family law pro bono client be turned away. In the last twelve years, she has dedicated at least 10% of her billable hours to pro bono service. Even though the Family Law Section of the State Bar does more pro bono work than all of the other sections, there is still a need every day. “Some of the most rewarding work I have done in my career has been for DVAP and I am so honored to continue that work for years to come,” she says. Thank you for all you do, Kathy!