Thomas Linn Shortlisted for 2021 Chambers USA Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year
Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has named Thomas Linn among 10 attorneys nationwide to be shortlisted for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year recognition in the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2021 honors.
"Throughout his career, Thom has shown a profound commitment to providing representation to those without financial means. His work has been instrumental in growing the pro bono program at Miller Canfield," said Miller Canfield CEO Megan Norris. "He has provided significant leadership to ensure that everyone, regardless of income, receives access to justice. He instilled a culture of pro bono service throughout the firm."
Linn joined Miller Canfield in 1976 and served as one of the firm's managing directors and CEO.
After Linn stepped down as the firm's CEO, he agreed to co-chair Miller Canfield's pro bono committee. He expanded the firm's program to include active committee members in each U.S. office, created a program for summer associates to provide meaningful pro bono work, established relationships with various community resource organizations to engage in partnerships for providing legal services, instituted consistent internal messaging to encourage pro bono service and chaired the firm's bimonthly committee meetings. Today, he serves as a consistent supporter of Miller Canfield's Pro Bono Counsel Wendy Richards, and is an active provider of pro bono service, typically contributing more than 200 hours of service per year.
Linn has assisted organizations and agencies that facilitate pro bono service and legal service to low-income and underserved communities. He is a frequent volunteer in legal clinics sponsored by Lakeshore Legal Aid, the Capuchins, Osborn Business Association and others. He regularly participates in the State Bar of Michigan's ABA trip to Washington to advocate for increased federal funding for civil legal aid. He has provided leadership and assistance to the Michigan State Bar Foundation to increase financial resources from the legal community through the Access to Justice Campaign.
Firms and individuals are selected based on extensive research by Chambers USA and its D&I team. Chambers & Partners and Chambers USA are leading law firm and lawyer research and ranking publications that rank the top lawyers and law firms across the U.S. and globally. Winners of the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2021 will be announced on June 17.