About Us

2025 Annual Event

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

James J. Sandman

Jim Sandman is Distinguished Lecturer and Senior Consultant to the Future of the Profession Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. He is also President Emeritus of the Legal Services Corporation, the United States’ largest funder of civil legal aid programs. Jim served as President of LSC from 2011 to February of 2020. Jim practiced for 30 years with the international, Washington-based law firm of Arnold & Porter. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner for a decade. Immediately prior to joining the Legal Services Corporation, he served for three years as General Counsel of the District of Columbia Public Schools. He is a past President of the 100,000-member District of Columbia Bar.

2025 AWARDEES

Joanna Allison- Joanna Allison Legacy of Service Award

For over 30 years, Joanna Allison’s commitment to VLP’s mission has made an invaluable impact in the lives of our clients, volunteers, and staff. Joanna always knew she wanted to use her education and skills to even the playing field for low- income people, and through her legal aid journey has done just that. As Executive Director of the Volunteer Lawyers Project since 2015, and with roots extending to her early work at the Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina, Joanna has been a champion for the rights of underserved individuals in legal services and a strong leader in the pursuit of accessibility and equity for all. Since joining VLP in 1993 as a Staff Attorney, she has helped to expand eviction defense work while developing pro bono panels in bankruptcy, consumer, and foreclosure prevention, helping to create the popular “Lawyer for the Day” clinics.

Joanna notes that working in legal services has been a privilege, and she has found inspiration from colleagues who share the same passion, she shares: “I have been fortunate to work for and with dedicated folks like Meg Connolly, Will Ogburn, Ellen Gerber, and Hazel Mack. I know I stood on their shoulders to see the bigger picture”. Joanna hopes that her impact on the clients she has helped has been twofold: an immediate impact such as stopping their eviction, and a long-term impact of showing them that they have the right to fair treatment in the courts. She fondly remembers the client population she has served at her time at VLP, and notes the impact they have had on her, “No one has had more of an impact on me than my 37 years of representing folks who push through hard times to keep their children fed and safe. They are everyday heroes who just don’t give up. I am grateful to have known them and to have been of some service to them”.

As Joanna looks ahead to her upcoming retirement, she shares the importance of continuing the pursuit of access to justice: “Even in these times of anger and unkindness that seem unprecedented, dare to be optimistic, dare to believe you can change things”.

Joanna’s leadership in creating access to justice, devotion to public service, and her passionate advocacy for equity across communities will continue to inspire those who worked alongside her and the future generations of legal aid advocates. Thank you, Joanna!

Kevin Finnegan, Esq. – Judge Edward M. Ginsburg Gideon’s Trumpet Award

Kevin Finnegan began volunteering with VLP in 2024. Since then, he has been a consistent and dedicated volunteer at SERV, Family Law and Guardianship, and Housing clinics, volunteering at each clinic almost every week since starting with VLP. In Housing Court, Kevin supports many clients facing homelessness and housing instability, who are often times struggling with mental health, financial, and familial issues. He notes that the most satisfying part of volunteering in the housing court is when he can get a tenant a payment plan, a source of financial assistance to pay rent arrears, or any type of continuance in the eviction process and the tenant then expresses extreme gratitude for his help. Kevin shares, “Dealing with a wide variety of clients, especially in the Housing Court, has reminded me how tough many people have it and how grateful so many of them are for the legal advice and words of encouragement that I can provide them”. When Kevin is not volunteering with VLP, he enjoys traveling and cycling with his wife, volunteering at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and meeting up with his high school friends for a game of poker. Kevin believes that “you are never too old to begin volunteering. It keeps your mind working. It keeps you connected to the real world, provides you with many new friends, and most importantly gives you great satisfaction in helping others who are less fortunate than you are.” Thank you, Kevin, for your dedication to VLP and our clients!

Steve Greenzang, Esq.- Yvette C. Mendez Award

Steve Greenzang started volunteering with VLP in 2013, and since then has been an extremely strong and consistent volunteer in our Family Law and Guardianship unit. Recovering from a sudden stroke and unable to return to his practice, Steve came to VLP looking for ways to get into law related opportunities. Since then, Steve has completed over 1,000 hours volunteering with VLP, a true testament to his selfless dedication and commitment to our mission and client community. As Steve reflects on his time at VLP, he recalls how not only has he made an impact on the lives of our clients, but they have had an impact on him as well. He shares: “I love engaging with people and learning their stories. It is humbling to learn about their challenges and how hard they work to overcome those challenges”. Steve finds it rewarding to know that he is making a real impact, he shares “I find it satisfying that parties usually express thanks and appreciation for the assistance provided”. The advice Steve lives by is “to try to fill each day in pursuit of your interest and passions”, and he has done just that! When Steve is not working, he prioritizes time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family, and enjoys bicycling with his wife. Thank you, Steve, for your commitment to VLP!

Pam Kogut, Esq.- Denis Maguire Pro Bono Award

Pamela Kogut started volunteering with VLP in 2023 in our Consumer Unit working on debt- buyer cases, and since then has lent her expertise and time to make a huge impact on our client community. Her first job after law school was at a small firm on Martha’s Vineyard, where she had a mentor who showed her the ropes of litigation and pro bono work. Since then, Pamela knew that public service and pro bono work were her path. In just two years Pamela has worked on over 15 cases and has found satisfaction in knowing her work is making a meaningful impact in the lives of our clients. “In these debt buyer cases, the clients are truly burdened by the debts that they are being sued for. The clients are so grateful when VLP steps in to represent them. When we prevail in these cases, the clients are so relieved to have these burdens lifted”, she explains, “I often see that the clients have many problems, that the small claims lawsuit from a debt buyer is often just one of them. But removing the debt literally lightens their load”. Pamela approaches her volunteer work from this perspective: “today I can lend help to these clients. Maybe tomorrow it will be me who is relying on the kindness and expertise of someone else. We’re all doing our part, and it feels good to be doing mine.” When Pamela is not volunteering, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and gardening. She shares, “I am so touched to have been thought of for this award. I feel surrounded by others in this VLP community who are all doing great work, and it is an honor to work in this community”. Thank you, Pamela, for your contribution to VLP!