Attorney, Quincy native honored by ABA for pro bono work

The American Bar Association will honor four individuals and a law firm for demonstrating outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged at a virtual program later this summer.

The Pro Bono Publico Awards represent the top honors given by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, which over the years has spotlighted pro bono efforts of individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession.

Quincy native Rebecca Rapp is one of four recipients of the 2021 Pro Bono Publico Awards .

Rapp is the general counsel/chief privacy officer of Ascendium Education Group, a nonprofit committed to improving access and success to education and meaningful employment for vulnerable cohorts, Rapp has had a career of inspiring others to provide pro bono service. She is known for using technology and innovation to increase the reach of pro bono and is involved with a project to provide legal help to technical colleges around Wisconsin, including in rural areas that have been coined “legal deserts” due to their lack of attorneys. Rapp has testified before the Wisconsin Supreme Court to remove limitations on pro bono services. She directly assists clients at legal clinics and serves on committees or boards of several access-to-justice organizations.

Rapp eceived her bachelor’s and law degrees from The University of Chicago and a master’s degree from The University of Oxford. 

This year’s presentation will be Aug. 4 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. EDT on the opening day of the 2021 ABA Annual Meeting, which runs through Aug. 10 with virtual programming.