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Celebrating Pro Bono Attorneys

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Hon. Stephanie Klein (Ret.) recalled helping a veteran obtain
a 100% service-connected disability rating from the Veterans
Administration for his post-traumatic stress disorder, incurred
as a result of his two tours in Vietnam. For her client, it wasn't
about the money. It was the recognition that "something had
happened to him in Vietnam that prevented him from working
and taking care of his family." She went on, "Psychologically he
needed that to restore his worth as an individual."

Members of the Delaware County Pro Bono panel also
shared compelling stories of their pro bono work. Steven
Koense, Esq., spoke movingly about a mother who had come
to his office seeking representation in a family law matter and
disclosed severe abuse by her husband including a hit to her
face, breaking a bone, detaching her retina, and causing severe
nerve damage. Moved by the client's story and vulnerability,
Mr. Koense spoke with his managing partner and Legal Aid and
agreed to provide pro bono representation to this individual. It
took awhile but Mr. Koense obtained a three-year Protection
from Abuse order for his client, and helped her gain sole legal
and physical custody of her children, several of whom were
under age 18. "There was no way that I was not going to help
this woman," he said.

There are many opportunities to represent pro bono clients,
from helping out at an expungement clinic, to providing advice
to a senior citizen, to representing a client in Court. Won't
you join us? To volunteer in Delaware County, please contact
Jackie Csop at 610-566-6625, ext. 227, email her at jackie@
delcobar.org, or visit https://www.delcobar.org/members/probono-service/. Thomas Kerstan, Esq., coordinates Legal Aid of
Southeastern PA (LASP)'s pro bono effort for Delaware County.
He can be reached at 610-874-8421 or tkerstan@lasp.org.
The program celebrated other members of Delaware County's
pro bono panel in the audience who enjoyed pastries and wine to
bolster the message that helping others attain justice is sweet.

Encouraging colleagues to consider pro bono service, Robert
Keller, Esq., noted his work representing clients requiring
expungement of their criminal records. Expungements pave
the way for people to get jobs, rent apartments, enter programs,
access education, and restore their dignity. One pro bono
client never shared with his family that he had a record and
was relieved to know that he will never have to, thanks to
the expungement process. "It's such a great feeling for me
personally to get their records cleared," Keller said. "... There
are a lot of folks out there who need help."
Featuring traditional Italian pastries from YogurTissimo, made
fresh daily with an authentic, old-world taste. YougurTissimo,
one of the newer entries into the fantastic dining renaissance
in Media, is owned by Mr. Michele Colandrea, who also owns
Little Anthony's Pizza, and will soon debut La Fava, an Italian
Mediterranean Fusion Restaurant & Wine Bar, in Glen Mills. *

20 | Fall 2018

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