By Stacy Rupprecht Butler

 

The Attorney of the Month for

June is Wayne Yehling.  Wayne

has been a member of Southern

Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer

Lawyers Program since 1992. 

During that time he has assisted

more than three hundred clients

with domestic relations and

domestic violence matters and provided more than eight hundred hours of

service.  In addition to his direct representation of clients, Wayne has been a

participant in the VLP’s Domestic Relations Clinics, as well as a constant

resource for the VLP staff. 

 

Recently, Wayne accepted a challenging case for a woman and her young son

who were victims of terrible domestic violence.  The client’s boyfriend did not

believe that she could afford an attorney.  Fortunately, the client contacted a

domestic violence shelter, they introduced her to the VLP and Wayne agreed to

assist her.  It was no small commitment, yet with patience and hard work,

Wayne helped her win back her son.  The VLP’s monthly award is a distinct

honor: of the 1200 attorneys who volunteer their time with VLP, only 12 receive

the VLP’s Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award each year. 

 

Q&A with Wayne Yehling:

 

Where are you from?   Where did you go to college?  Where did you go

to law school?

I’m a native Tucsonan.  I attended St. John's College Seminary in Camarillo, CA

for college and the University of Arizona for law school.

 

What is the history of your practice of law?  

1985‑86, Law Clerk for Judge Thomas Kleinschmidt, Division One.  1986‑1989,

Pima County Public Defender's Office, Appeals Division.  1989‑present ‑

DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy.

 

What are your current practice areas?  

Family law.  Education Law.

 

What drives you to volunteer with VLP? 

Catholic guilt.

 

Anyone you would like to acknowledge for contributing to your legal

career / pro bono service? 

This firm's policy of encouraging pro bono work and giving billable hour credit

for it.

 

Other VLP volunteers you'd like to give a shout‑out to?

All of them.