Congratulations to the 2021 Pro Bono Stars!

October 27, 2021

In October, the DBA Access to Justice Committee recognized five “Pro Bono Stars” in commemoration of pro bono month. Please join us in celebrating their outstanding pro bono efforts.

Justin Bertron is an estate planning attorney for Peak Trusts & Estates, LLC, in Denver. He represents pro bono clients in estate planning and probate cases and has participated in clinics at the Denver Indian Center. Explained Justin, “I get so much personally out of volunteering with organizations like Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) because it feels great when you know you have helped someone who really needs it. I also enjoy all the great friends I have made in the legal community volunteering alongside them.”

Tammy Kuennen teaches the Civil Litigation Clinic at DU Law School, where students represent low-income people in civil legal matters. Tammy’s pro bono work, which she characterizes as “food for her soul,” includes membership in a grassroots community group called the Direct Action Team, whose mission is to fight wage theft. Tammy has also volunteered since 2015 as a guardian ad litem with the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center and works with adult survivors of gender-based violence through Project Safeguard.

Wesley Parks is an attorney at Cohen & Cohen, P.C., where he represents consumer bankruptcy and family law clients, and is the owner of Parks Mediation. From 2015 through 2020, he provided pro bono mediation services through Jefferson County Mediation Services. He is a volunteer and lead mediator for Court Mediation Services in Denver County, and he provides pro bono mediation, legal representation, and mentoring services through MVL. Wesley is chair of the CBA ADR Section and was pivotal in launching the Resolution Corps, a section program that promotes access to justice through virtual mediation services.

Katharine (Katy) Lum is an attorney with Lass Cooper & Ramp, LLC, practicing family law at both the trial and appellate levels. Katy is a member of the Family Law Section’s Executive Council, where she serves on the Amicus Committee and co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee. Katy volunteers with MVL’s post-decree and unbundled clinics, providing consultations to parties seeking assistance with various aspects of their domestic relations matters. She also takes full representation MVL family law cases.

Deborah Yim is the founding attorney of Primera Law Group, where she represents Colorado workers and small businesses in employment and civil rights cases. Last year, as part of the Federal Pro Se Panel and Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice, she spent hundreds of hours as pro bono counsel to Colorado workers in four federal district court cases challenging workplace discrimination and abuses. She also served as community outreach co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado and spearheaded the APABA Cares program. Deborah is legal services co-chair of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and pro bono counsel to the Denver Asian Real Estate Association.