BOSTON, MA—Boston legal services nonprofit Lawyers Clearinghouse announces that attorney James “Jim” Kelleher, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer at Liberty Mutual Group, is the first ever recipient of the organization’s Pro Bono Excellence Award, created to acknowledge the contributions of the Clearinghouse’s pro bono volunteers. The Clearinghouse is recognizing Kelleher at its 31st Annual Meeting on June 6 in recognition of his successful efforts in advancing a robust and active pro bono volunteer program within Liberty Mutual’s legal department.
Liberty Mutual has long supported the Lawyers Clearinghouse’s pro bono legal programs, including the Massachusetts Legal Clinic for the Homeless, which operates out of nine area homeless shelters. For the past 10 years, attorneys from Liberty Mutual have regularly volunteered to meet with homeless and very-low income clients at these clinics and have achieved many successes helping clients remain housed, access benefits, and contend with other pressing legal matters.
“We are so pleased and honored to present Jim with this award,” said Clearinghouse Executive Director Maribeth Perry. “Under his leadership, Liberty Mutual has strengthened the pro bono volunteering program that has served as the gold standard and model for many other in-house legal departments. His contributions and that of Liberty Mutual’s legal department have made such a difference for the people we serve.”
About Lawyers Clearinghouse
The Lawyers Clearinghouse was founded in 1988 by the Boston Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association to provide legal support to nonprofit organizations working to promote affordable housing and alleviate homelessness. The Clearinghouse founders believed they could harness the skills of the private bar to address legal issues keeping nonprofits from reaching their full potential, allowing them to impact more lives and communities. Since then, the Clearinghouse has expanded the scope of its services to include educational workshops for nonprofits and lawyers, legal clinics for the homeless at shelters in the Boston area, and a program to engage retired lawyers and judges in pro bono pursuits. Learn more at www.lawyersclearinghouse.org.
