KU Law students make 2026 honor roll for pro bono service
LAWRENCE – Sixty-two University of Kansas School of Law students provided more than 2,300 hours of free legal services during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The students’ services included preparing tax returns for low-income residents, representing parties in the KU Court of Parking Appeals and volunteering for the courts, the Douglas County Legal Self-Help Center, and prosecutors’ and public defenders’ offices. Others worked with volunteer attorneys to provide legal information and advice to income-eligible Kansans through the Kansas Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers Program. Students also served communities outside of Kansas, including representing low-income families in civil cases through the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
“Pro bono service is a vital part of the legal profession,” said Meredith Schnug, clinical associate professor and associate director of the Legal Aid Clinic. “Law students who participate in pro bono service gain valuable practical experience and see firsthand how legal help can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
KU Law defines pro bono work as uncompensated, law-related work that benefits the public, such as through a nonprofit organization or government agency.
The following 48 students completed 15 hours or more of pro bono service during the 2025-2026 academic year, earning a spot on KU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Roll. Students are listed by name, graduation year and hometown:
- Jess Asbury, 2028, Willows, California
- Kat Balke, 2028, Overland Park
- Aidan Bhargava, 2028, Wichita
- Camilla Brown, 2027, Topeka
- Hamilton Brown, 2027, Leawood
- Braedon Bush, 2028, Lenexa
- John Colard, 2026, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Haley Copeland, 2027, Sterling, Virginia
- Grace Cotton, 2027, Kansas City, Missouri
- Zarah Demeire, 2027, Kansas City, Missouri
- Tanner Faddis, 2027, Loa, Utah
- Lauren Fallis, 2027, Leawood
- Karenna Fife, 2026, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Gabriella Fischer, 2027, Salina
- Christian Fish, 2026, Pensacola, Florida
- Keegan Fredrick, 2026, Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Kennedy Frost, 2027, Allen, Texas
- Devin Heyman, 2028, Lutz, Florida
- David Holt, 2027, Bonner Springs
- Andrew Hudgins, 2028, Floyd, Virginia
- Alec Hummel, 2028, West Monroe, Louisiana
- Yasmin Jarik, 2027, Overland Park
- Lukas Kappes-Sum, 2028, Shawnee
- Jordan Kaseff, 2027, Overland Park
- Sidharth Mohan, 2027, Wellington, Florida
- Alexander Neumann, 2028, White Plains, New York
- Jeffrey Nickle, 2027, North Logan, Utah
- Evan Norkey, 2026, Olathe
- Shelby Norman, 2027, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
- Liz Oltjen, 2026, Leawood
- Austin Perr, 2028, Overland Park
- Kae Ranck, 2028, Eugene, Oregon
- Paulina Rivera-Soto, 2026, Logan, Utah
- Charles Roeder, 2027, Topeka
- Breckyn Russell, 2028, O’Fallon, Missouri
- Gâvvy Sanders, 2028, Tyler, Texas
- Amreen Sauji, 2027, Overland Park
- Isabelle Schafer, 2027, Wichita
- Rylee Schmidt, 2028, Olathe
- Harshpreet Singh, 2026, Hicksville, New York
- Tanya Singh, 2026, Manhattan
- Brett Smith, 2026, Edmond, Oklahoma
- Staci Smith, 2027, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Christopher Storino, 2027, West Windsor, New Jersey
- Mara Taubert, 2027, Pipestone, Minnesota
- Tylinn Wilson, 2027, Wichita
- Jasper Wood, 2028, San Antonio, Texas
- Joshua Yancey, 2027, Kersey, Colorado.
The American Association of Law Schools invites member institutions to recognize one student annually for the AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll. This year, KU Law nominated Liz Oltjen, Class of 2026.
Oltjen completed more than 170 hours of pro bono service during her time in law school. She served as counsel through the KU Court of Parking Appeals, worked at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and represented children in the foster care system as a court-appointed special advocate in Douglas County.
In addition, 16 students were honored with Pro Bono Distinction for completing 50 hours or more of pro bono service throughout their law school career. Collectively, members of the Class of 2026 performed more than 2,025 hours of pro bono service during their time in law school.
“Participating in pro bono work has been the most formative experience of my time in law school,” said Paulina Rivera-Soto, Class of 2026. “I came to law school with the goal of pursuing a career in public interest. Law school can be so busy, but working with clients individually grounded me. It constantly reminded me why I chose this path. The legal profession is ultimately about serving others, and I am grateful to KU Law for providing me with the opportunity to do just that.”
Students who received Pro Bono Distinction were recognized at the law school’s Hooding Ceremony on May 16:
- John Colard, 2026, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Ian Englebright, 2026, Wichita
- Karenna Fife, 2026, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Christian Fish, 2026, Pensacola, Florida
- Keegan Fredrick, 2026, Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Jacob Himberger, 2026, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Keirn Kinnan, 2026, Lenexa
- Evelyn Manresa, 2026, McPherson
- Evan Norkey, 2026, Olathe
- Liz Oltjen, 2026, Leawood
- Neil Pol, Suwanee, Georgia
- Paulina Rivera-Soto, 2026, Logan, Utah
- Harshpreet Singh, 2026, Hicksville, New York
- Tanya Singh, 2026, Manhattan
- Brett Smith, 2026, Edmond, Oklahoma
- Cody White, 2026, Troup, Texas.