Monica Mark Named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year

MILWAUKEE – Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. (Reinhart) is pleased to announce that Associate Monica A. Mark has been named the 2021 Reinhart Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.

Mark was chosen as this year’s honoree because of her deep commitment to providing quality legal services to those who are unable to pay for the representation they need, and for sharing her passion for this important work by serving as a mentor to younger attorneys. With nearly 200 hours dedicated to pro bono work over the past year alone, Mark represented inmates in appellate matters involving claims for medical malpractice and the denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. She also volunteered with the State Bar of Wisconsin Appellate Help Desk.

When asked about what this important work means to her, Monica commented that, "Our legal system is meant to be accessible to everyone. It’s meant to give everyone their day in court. It’s meant to do justice. Taking on pro bono representations to me is a huge part of working to make that a reality. It can be so incredibly difficult for a pro se party to navigate the courts and present their case without representation. There are a lot of potential stumbling blocks. So, I think that I have a very real obligation to represent people who don’t have the ability to retain counsel, to do my part to work toward ensuring that the system functions for everyone, not just people with resources. Anything less isn’t justice."

As an associate in Reinhart’s Litigation Practice, Mark focuses on intellectual property matters and commercial litigation. A large part of her practice centers around appellate litigation, where clients rely on her ability to guide them through the appeals process. Oftentimes brought in as a consultant, Mark ensures that appellate procedure is followed and helps effectively frame arguments and brief appeals. She has briefed appeals in numerous courts, including both state and federal courts of appeals, and has argued before both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

“For more than 100 years, Reinhart has provided pro bono service to those in our communities who might otherwise be denied excellent legal representation,” said Reinhart CEO Albert Orr. “We are proud of Monica’s exemplary efforts, exceptional skills and selfless dedication to her pro bono clients.”

Reinhart initiated its Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award program in 2009, to recognize the exceptional efforts of attorneys within the firm who demonstrate a long-standing and devoted commitment to pro bono work.