Local Attorneys Recognized For Volunteering Time To Citizens In Need

Press release by Legal Volunteers of Southeast Indiana, Inc.  (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Legal Volunteers of Southeast Indiana, Inc. (“Legal Volunteers”) recently presented its 2017 awards to several attorneys throughout the area who volunteered their time and knowledge to help those who might not otherwise be able to afford legal assistance. Heidi Kendall-Sage was presented with the Volunteer Attorney of the Year award. Kendall-Sage is a partner with Alcorn Sage Schwartz & Magrath, LLP in Madison, Indiana. While her private practice focuses on worker’s compensation claims, Social Security disability and personal injury claims, Kendall-Sage lends her vast experience in family law cases to Legal Volunteers. “Heidi is an outstanding advocate for her clients,” said Lawrenceburg attorney Adrienne Flannery, Legal Volunteers Co-Plan Administrator. “The level of care and attention she gives to her clients and our organization made her the obvious choice for this award,” Flannery added. Lisa Rosenberger was presented with the Solo Practitioner of the Year award. Rosenberger’s practice is based in Vevay, Indiana, where she operates a general practice, focusing on criminal defense, estate planning, real estate and family law. “Her broad experience in numerous areas of the law make her an invaluable asset to our organization,” said Legal Volunteers Co-Plan Administrator, Lawrenceburg attorney Alan Miller. “She is always willing to help in any way she can.  She is a great example of what an attorney should be doing when it comes to community service,” Miller continued. Votaw and Schwarz is the recipient of the 2017 Firm of the Year award. Votaw and Schwarz, based in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is an association of attorneys Joseph Votaw, Allison Schwarz, Leslie Votaw, Andrew Baudendistel, Joseph Johns and Peter Johns. Collectively, the firm focuses on criminal defense, family law, estate planning, and municipal law. “The attorneys at Votaw and Schwarz are active members of our organization. Whether it be a continuing education opportunity, participating in our Talk to a Lawyer Today event, or simply taking a difficult case, we know we can count on them to deliver,” said Flannery. “They are true leaders in their field.” The Jefferson County Bar Association earned the 2017 County of Distinction award. “Jefferson County had the highest rate of placed cases---where a client is successfully matched with a volunteer attorney---and it wasn’t close,” said Miller. “As a whole, the membership of the bar understands and holds true to the duty they swore to take on when they were admitted to the bar: to never reject the cause of the defenseless, the oppressed or those who cannot afford adequate legal assistance,” Miller stated. Legal Volunteers is a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance at no cost to low-income citizens in nine southeast Indiana counties: Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland, Union, and Wayne.  The program consists of local private attorneys who volunteer their time and provide high quality legal services to qualified clients in civil cases only. The program is made possible by donations from the Indiana Bar Foundation and is not subsidized by federal or state tax dollars.  There is never a charge for attorney services.