Pro Bono

Read more about some of the great Pro Bono work being done at Alston & Bird.

Mia L. Falzarano Alston Award Winner for Leadership and Dedication Mia L. Falzarano, Senior Associate in the Dallas Litigation & Trial Practice group, earns the prestigious Alston award for her leadership and dedication. With nearly 500 hours invested, Mia is a standout in expedited actions, including federal bench trials on custody disputes. Leading three Hague Convention cases this year alone, she secured a minor's return to Italy and championed pro bono causes, sealing criminal records and securing settlements for disadvantaged clients. Mia's colleagues praise her remarkable ability to balance professional demands while mentoring others and advancing justice.
Byung J. "BJay" Pak Leading Advocate for Atlanta Shooting Victims' Families Byung J. "BJay" Pak has been a leading advocate for the families of the Atlanta shooting victims. He says the key to change is getting members of the AAPI community — a historically silent minority — to make their voices heard. Within the firm's Atlanta office, Pak works alongside litigation associates Sarah J. Lee and Taylor Lin, among others, who have volunteered their time and talents to represent the families of shooting victims Yong Ae Yue and Suncha Kim.
Lauren McHale Alston Award Winner for Leadership This year’s award goes to Lauren McHale, Senior Associate in Charlotte's Finance Group, who is honored for leadership on four impactful projects with the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC). Leading teams on extensive research, including mental health access for homeless youth across 50 states, Lauren's dedication and organization ensured timely completion. Recognized by NHLC and our client CVS for her outstanding contributions, she was invited to co-chair the national Homelessness Action Legal Team. Lauren's commitment to impactful change exemplifies her dedication to homeless youth across the country in need of mental health services.
Derin B. Dickerson Obtained Expungement of Criminal Record for Client Derin B. Dickerson, Partner in the Litigation & Trial Practice Group, volunteers with the Georgia Justice Project to help Georgia citizens obtain expungement of their criminal records. One of Derin's recent clients was convicted of being a fugitive from justice in Alabama when he was 20 years old because he returned home to Georgia after being expelled from college following a youthful indiscretion. Despite turning his life around, the conviction on Derin’s client’s criminal record haunted him, often preventing him from obtaining employment and causing his employer to fire him. Sixteen years later, Derin helped get his client’s record expunged so he could obtain employment to take care of his family.