The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has named Chattanooga attorney Richard Gossett an ABA Free Legal Answers 2022 Pro Bono Leader.
The committee presents this annual recognition to individual attorneys, law firms, corporate law departments and other organizations that have provided “extraordinary pro bono services” through ABA Free Legal Answers, a pro bono legal advice portal, a news release notes.
Gossett answered 747 civil legal questions through the portal in 2022.
Now in its seventh year, ABA Free Legal Answers has responded to more than a quarter million civil legal questions submitted by users to the nearly 12,000 pro bono attorneys from 41 jurisdictions, including a federal portal addressing veterans benefits and immigration questions.
During a tenured career at Baker Donelson, Gossett concentrated on banking, business bankruptcy, reorganizations and creditors rights. He retired in May and now limits his legal practice to pro bono matters.
Gossett urges his fellow attorneys to join him.
“Buck Lewis, my colleague at Baker Donelson, and others who were instrumental in establishing the ABA Free Legal Answers site, have provided an efficient means for us to spend an hour or so each work day to respond to legal inquiries from an underserved population,” he says. “I hope others will join in the effort.”
The ABA is not the first organization to applaud Gossett for providing ample pro bono services. The Tennessee Bar Association named him the 2021 recipient of its Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognizes significant pro bono work by a private attorney.
Gossett spent more than 200 hours responding to questions on Tennessee Free Legal Answers, making him among the largest contributors in the state.
Baker Donelson also recognized Gossett with its Pro Bono Legacy Award in 2020 after he made noteworthy contributions to the underserved community through his pro bono efforts.
Sources: ABA; Baker Donelson