The Annual Convention of the State Bar of South Dakota recently took place in Rapid City, SD. On its final day, June 24, Davenport Evans lawyer Reece Almond was presented with the South Dakota Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award for 2022. The award recognizes dedication to pro bono service through the State Bar of South Dakota’s Legal Aid Program, Access to Justice, Inc.
Reece Almond presented award by Bar President William Garry
In 2017, Access to Justice received a request from a Circuit Court Judge regarding a case where a minor child was in need of their own attorney due to a high conflict custody/visitation situation and related Protection Order matter. Davenport Evans lawyer Reece Almond stepped forward and volunteered to assist, and the case finally closed in late 2020.
Throughout this 3-year period, Reece provided over 300 hours of pro bono service in his capacity as attorney for the minor child. Although the matter had technically concluded in 2019, Reece elected to continue volunteering for another year at the request of the Judge, in case there were any new developments in the case. Reece provided well over $60,000 worth of pro bono service hours in his 3 years of serving as a minor child attorney in these matters. In addition to this case, Reece has accepted other various court appointments on a variety of matters.
Reece also chairs the South Dakota State Bar’s Ask-A-Lawyer program. He previously served as a Judge in Teen Court. He also serves as Vice-Chair for the Friends of the Big Sioux River, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Big Sioux River and its watershed, improving its water quality, and educating South Dakotans to build a conservation ethic. Finally, Reece also serves as Vice-Chair of the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic partner with the Sioux Falls School District raising funds for teachers and students in need.
Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is one of the state’s largest law firms. The firm’s attorneys provide business and litigation counsel to individuals and corporate clients in a variety of practice areas. For more information about Davenport Evans, visit www.dehs.com.