By Michele Mirto

 

Every month, Southern Arizona Legal

Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP)

recognizes an attorney for his or her

efforts and contributions to the program. 

The VLP’s monthly award is a distinct

honor: of the 1220 attorneys who volunteer

their time with the VLP, only 12 receive the

VLP’s Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award

each year.

 

Bob Barrasso was selected to receive the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney of

the Month Award for February 2011.  Mr. Barrasso has been a member of the

VLP in Pima County since 2000.  During that time, he has helped clients with

domestic relations matters that include complex divorce, custody and paternity

cases.  Recently Mr. Barrasso completed work on a divorce case for a client

who first made contact with SALA through the VLP’s Self-Service Center Project

housed at the Pima County Superior Courthouse.  The client had concerns

about the opposing parties violent behavior.  The client was concerned for the

safety of the parties eight year old child who had exhibited signs of abuse. 

Mr. Barrasso agreed to assist the client and represented her at trial.  As a

result of Mr. Barrasso’s efforts, the court found that the respondent had

committed acts of domestic violence upon the client.  The client was

awarded sole care, custody and control of the parties’ child.  Mr. Barrasso

dedicated 20 hours to this matter.  

 

Q & A with Robert Barrasso

 

Where are you from?

I’m a native Tucsonan and a University of Arizona graduate.

 

What are your current practice areas?

I have been handling family law matters for over 20 years.

 

What drives you to volunteer with VLP?

I was raised Catholic and have believed from my youth that in a very real way no

one is better than anyone else and that when you are blessed with success you

have an obligation to share that with your community.

 

Unique VLP experiences?

One thing unique about my VLP experience is that I can’t browbeat my client on

little issues by explaining, “it’s not worth the money!”.  In most cases, that is a

useful hammer to get clients to focus on the main issues.

 

One reason you would encourage attorneys to volunteer with VLP?

Family law attorneys should be encouraged to volunteer with VLP because there

is such a great need for representation in family law cases.  Just ask any Judge

how much they would like there to be at least one lawyer in a case.