News & Knowledge

The Capital Area Bar Association (CABA) recently held their annual Evening Honoring the Judiciary at the Country Club of Jackson. The dinner not only hosts a keynote speaker but also serves as an opportunity for CABA and Jackson Young Lawyers (JYL) to present their annual awards for outstanding service, pro bono and professionalism.  FormanWatkins is extremely proud to have one of its very own presented with the 2020 JYL Pro Bono Service Award, congratulations to Julian Miller for this well-deserved recognition!

Jackson-based attorneys Nick Giallourakis and Ruth Maron Huskey successfully represented a pro bono client in reacquiring ownership of his property after it was sold to a loan company at a state tax sale.  Giallourakis and Huskey negotiated with the loan company to allow their client to reacquire the property at a fraction of the amount initially demanded by the loan company and for an amount much less than the appraised value of the land.  The pro bono client and his family were able to stay on the subject property throughout the process, which began in August 2018 and ended in February 2021.  Huskey and Giallourakis initially worked with Mission First, one of Forman Watkins’ longstanding pro bono partners.  

FormanWatkins released its 2020 Pro Bono & Civic Engagement Report today. The Firm’s pro bono efforts are led by our Pro Bono Committee, whose members include: Alison McMinn, Courtney Hunt, Erin Latuso, Julian Miller, Margaret McLaughlin, Mimi Arthur, Mitch McGuffey, Nicole Diesa, and Vernon McFarland.  Thank you to all team members involved with these cases, it truly makes a difference! We’re happy for you to share our mission, you may download a PDF by clicking here: FormanWatkins Pro Bono in Review_2020

FormanWatkins’ Pro Bono Committee recently unveiled the new Pro Bono Star, a badge which honors our attorneys who dedicated 25 or more pro bono hours in 2020. Congratulations to the 17 attorneys receiving this inaugural recognition! The Pro Bono Star will be awarded annually to attorneys meeting or exceeding the Firm’s pro bono goals for the year.

The firm recently awarded the 2020 recipients with our inaugural Pro Bono Star and Civic Star awards. We proudly congratulate our dedicated team members, Julian Miller and Jennifer Parks!

New Orleans attorneys Tim Gray, Michelle Roy, Margaret McLaughlin, and Jordan Nixon recently prevailed in an appeal of a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Order denying Special Juvenile Immigrant Status to a minor child, originally from Guatemala. The effect of the win is that the child is now entitled to apply for and receive permanent resident status. This win follows wins on behalf of her two sisters, also FormanWatkins Pro Bono clients, who prevailed in their asylum claims.

  We invite you to review our 2020 Pro Bono Highlights below or click here for a PDF.   FormanWatkins encourages its attorneys to do meaningful pro bono work that serves the communities in which we live and work.  For more information on our commitment to pro bono service, please visit our page here.

FormanWatkins released its 2019 Pro Bono & Civic Engagement Report today. The Firm’s pro bono efforts are led by our Pro Bono Committee, whose members include: Alison McMinn, Courtney Hunt, Erin Latuso, Julian Miller, Margaret McLaughlin, Mimi Arthur, Mitch McGuffey, Nicole Diesa, and Vernon McFarland.

Happy National Pro Bono Week! So far in 2019…. Our pro bono successes include: Two partners winning asylum for an Iraqi Christian family; Two associates successfully defending a juvenile in a youth court trial; Spearheading a Veterans information and resources clinic; and Co-hosting a pro se clinic at the Hinds County Chancery Court. Our current pro bono projects include: Partnering with the Mississippi College of Law Education Clinic to represent students in school discipline and special education cases; 11 attorneys across three offices working on appeals for two juveniles sentenced to life without parole; Co-hosting another Veteran’s information and resources clinic in November; and Over 100 hours (and counting!) responding to the needs of recently detained immigrants. FormanWatkins encourages its attorneys to do meaningful pro bono work that serves the communities in which we live and work.  For more information on our commitment to pro bono service, please visit our page here.

The Monmouth County Veterans Information and Resources Clinic will be taking place Saturday, November 2, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Monmouth University.  This is the third Veterans clinic organized by the Monmouth Bar Association.  The introductory clinic was successfully held in November of 2018, which led to hosting a Spring clinic in March of 2019.  Please refer to the flyer below for services that will be provided at the November 2 clinic, and be sure to pass the information along to local New Jersey Veterans.