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Attorney Brian McKeen Contributes $25,000 to Access to Justice Fund
11/17/03  Detroit attorney Brian J. McKeen has made a $25,000 pledge to the State Bar's Access to Justice (ATJ) Fund in support of civil legal aid for the poor. His gift was made in connection with an October 16th dinner to honor the past president of the State Bar of Michigan, Reginald M. Turner and to raise funds for ATJ.
McKeen's contribution is earmarked for the ATJ Endowment Fund for needs throughout the state, which means that interest earnings from his gift will be distributed to qualified applicants. The Michigan State Bar Foundation manages and distributes ATJ contributions. "As a trial attorney, I am compelled by the legal needs that poor people face in their day-to-day lives," said McKeen, who specializes in birth trauma and other medical malpractice cases. "There is a large number of individuals who have legal problems but who cannot afford to hire an attorney on an hourly basis, but their cases are such that it would not be feasible for an attorney to take it on a contingent fee basis. Without Access to Justice, these people would be disenfranchised. I think it is important for attorneys to give back to the system for the betterment of others," he added. The president of the State Bar, Scott S. Brinkmeyer, praised McKeen's support of the ATJ Endowment Fund. "His contribution to the justice system will live in perpetuity. I encourage other Michigan attorneys to follow Brian's generous lead and to support the legal needs of the poor," Brinkmeyer said. The Michigan State Bar Foundation distributes interest from the endowment, and from undesignated operations gifts, to non-profit legal aid providers that apply for support for specific projects to help serve low-income families who have nowhere else to turn with problems such as protection from domestic violence, recourse from unscrupulous contractors, access to medical care, support for children and other critical civil legal needs. Recent Foundation grants were made to the Women's Survival Center, Lakeshore Legal Aid, Legal Services of Northern Michigan and Michigan Indian Legal Services. For more information on the Access to Justice Campaign and the programs it supports, please see www.atjfund.org or contact the Access to Justice staff at 1-800-968-1442.
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