September 06, 2019
Herb Sebren of Tappahannock to Receive 2019 Powell Pro Bono Award
Hebert “Herb” L. Sebren Jr., a solo practitioner based in Tappahannock, has been named the 2019 recipient of the Lewis F. Powell Jr. Pro Bono Award.
“Again and again, I have called on one attorney in particular when looking for someone to provide assistance to a low-income family in a desperate legal situation,” writes Kimberly McCartney of Legal Aid Works in her nomination. “This attorney is, in my opinion, one of the most respected and dedicated of them all and gives so generously of his legal talents on behalf of our area’s poor.”
McCartney cites Sebren’s 22-year history of pro bono assistance and estimates that he’s taken on at least 150 cases over the years. “Because of him, at least 22 drivers’ licenses have been restored, at least 108 family matters have been resolved, and countless others have been helped with consumer problems, have had wills prepared, and have avoided eviction,” she writes.
McCartney highlighted an instance where Sebren was willing to take on a time-sensitive case during the holidays and another where Sebren went above and beyond in getting a divorce settled.
Ann H. Kloeckner, executive director of the Fredericksburg-based Legal Aid Works, seconded the nomination of Sebren, calling him a “standout” attorney for the volume of cases handled, his reliability, and his willingness to take on many different types of cases.
“A solo practitioner willing to help in a rural region that has few other alternatives for indigent clients is a godsend for our organization and the clients we serve,” Kloeckner writes.
Legal Aid Works’ managing attorney, John R. Rellick, praises Sebren for his willingness to help shoulder his caseload, which stretches across seven counties. “I wish our office had a hundred pro bono attorneys like Herb Sebren.”
The Powell Award was established by the Standing Committee on Access to Legal Services of the Virginia State Bar to honor attorneys and attorney groups that have made outstanding pro bono contributions. This year’s award will be presented October 16 during the Virginia State Bar Pro Bono Conference in Harrisonburg.
Updated: Sep 10, 2019