We are pleased to announce that the 2020-2021 PSJD Pro Bono Publico Award will go, jointly, to Delaney Heigert and Ellen Bertels, both 3Ls at University of Kansas School of Law. NALP confers this honor each year to a law student whose extraordinary commitment to law-related public service work contributes to the overall growth of pro bono culture within their law school and their broader community. This year NALP has chosen to honor two award winners to recognize their joint achievements and outstanding work.

Last winter, after much deliberation, we selected selected six finalists from among the students nominated for this award. In addition to our winners, we have also selected one student to honor as a Merit Distinction finalist.

Our winners, Merit Distinction finalist, and other finalists are highlighted below. Thank you to our impressive pool of nominees for the valuable work each of you do for your communities!

WINNERS: Ellen Bertels and Delaney Heigert | University of Kansas School of Law

Ellen Bertels and Delaney Heigert were selected as this year’s Pro Bono Public Award winners because of the outstanding achievements they made together toward the advancement and protection of transgender and nonbinary people’s rights. The impact of their pro bono work extends not only to their law school and their peers, but also to the LGBTQ+ community in Kansas, a state deep within the “Bible Belt.”

In the words of the Liz Hamor, Chapter Director of GLSEN Kansas:

Ellen and Delaney’s pro bono work to help transgender youth change their legal names and gender markers is life-saving work.

Statement of Support for the Nomination of Ellen Bertels and Delaney Heigert; 2020-2021 PSJD Pro Bono Publico Award

Further attesting to the profound impact of the clinic, Associate Professor Kyle Velte commented:

The unmet need for this work became immediately apparent: dozens of potential clients called the clinic within hours of its opening.

Statement of Support for the Nomination of Ellen Bertels and Delaney Heigert; 2020-2021 PSJD Pro Bono Publico Award

Ellen and Delaney’s efforts to create change within their school and community did not stop with the clinic. They have each written legal scholarship on topics involving LGBTQ+ rights. They see the intersectionality of their work and the promotion of the rights and safety of other historically marginalized communities. As 3Ls, they successfully petitioned their school to convert two gendered restrooms to accessible gender-neutral restrooms knowing that this was as much a fight for trans and nonbinary dignity as it was for the dignity of disabled persons. Last summer, Delaney joined the fight for racial justice by working with community organizers to protest the incarceration of Rontarus Washington, Jr., a Black man held in jail for five years without a trial. This coming fall, Ellen will serve as a Skadden fellow to expand the work of the clinic and to promote the needs of BIPOC trans Kansans.

Congratulations Delaney and Ellen!

Merit Distinction Finalist: Delaney Keefe | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Delaney Keefe was selected as the Merit Distinction finalist because of the outstanding impact she has made in her community. In protest against the lack of adequate resources for homeless Philadelphians at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the homeless community created three encampments in large areas of the city, with the support of local organizing groups. When the encampments first appeared, Delaney frequently brought donations to the residents and her presence in the community became noticeable and welcomed. She was a friend, a supporter, an organizer, and a service provider. Not only did she help the community survive by creating a clothing drive, constructing tents, and providing basic necessities to residents, she also defended the community using her access to legal services help and with her body when police harassed encampment residents.

In August, the City planned to evict the residents from the encampments. To prevent the disbanding of the community, Delaney drafted the documents needed to file a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against the City of Philadelphia, which were eventually filed with the help of Villanova law professors and a local criminal law attorney. But Delaney’s work did not end here. She gathered witnesses to appear in court and drove all attendees to the courthouse.

Although the injunction and restraining order were not granted, Delaney, her colleagues, and her friends were able to rally approximately one thousand Philadelphians in support of the encampments, which prevented the police from destroying the encampments. From there, Delaney negotiated a solution with the City and the Philadelphia Housing Authority to transfer fifty City-owned houses to encampment residents.

Delaney’s tireless work and commitment is a prime example of social movement lawyering, and the Award Committee is honored to recognize her as this year’s Merit Distinction Finalist.

Congratulations Delaney!

Other Finalists

Finally, the Award Committee wants to recognize the achievement of the other finalists for the 2020-2021 PSJD Pro Bono Publico Award:

• Tanya Burke | St. Mary’s University School of Law
  Committed to helping others however she can and providing encouragement to coworkers, peers, and fellow volunteers
• Nneka Ewolunu | University of Georgia School of Law
  Committed to creating space for historically marginalized communities
• Sarah Kahn | University of California, Irvine School of Law
  Dedicated to improving quality of life for incarcerated people and ultimately decreasing our country’s reliance on the carceral system