Merlin Law Group’s own Brandee Bower was recently awarded the Pro Bono/Public Service Award from UMKC law school. This award is given to an alumnus who has made an outstanding contribution to the public welfare through the legal profession.

I have always found it to be important to assist the community as a whole and specifically to assist those who need legal representation, but can’t afford it. There must be equal access to justice. I am very honored by this award.

Brandee recently served as the President of the Association for Women Lawyers and has volunteered her time over the past decade to organizations such as First Downs for Down Syndrome, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Robert Downs Golf tournament, Step Up, Harvesters, Operation Breakthrough, Food from the Bar, the NFL Alumni Golf Tournament, Read Across America, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Charities and the CCVI Trolley Run, among others. She also handles cases on a pro bono basis when her clients can’t afford to hire her or when the proceeds they seek from their insurance company would be consumed by her fee. Brandee has represented clients at Examinations Under Oath and fully prosecuted cases against insurance carriers at no cost to her clients.

When an 88 year old retired teacher on a pension is asked by her insurance carrier to appear at an Examination Under Oath, it is important that she have representation. It is my pleasure to be able to assist her with her case and help her obtain the insurance benefits she has paid for and rightly deserves.

You don’t help others in order to win an award, but it is an honor to be recognized and it provides encouragement to keep going forward and helping others. Pictured below are the recent award winners: Judge Stephen R. Bough (Pat Kelley Service Award), Larry Ward (President’s Award), Brianne Thomas (Decade Award), Brandee Bower (Pro Bono/Public Service Award) and Sandy Schermerhorn (Lifetime Achievement Award). Congratulations!

Brandee Bower