Peter Conway knows how difficult it is for solo practitioners to squeeze pro bono work into their busy schedules, especially challenging pro bono work. That's because Conway, a veteran solo practitioner who focuses on family law matters, is always giving back, and always going the extra mile.

Conway is a "regular" at Lakeshore Legal Aid and Lapeer Area Coalition Against Domestic Assault, a local domestic violence shelter, where he handles domestic relations cases pro bono. To date, he has donated approximately $20,000 worth of legal services, although it's hard to place a value on the work he's done.

Many of Conway's cases involve ongoing spousal support. These are generally longer-term cases that are, according to Conway, perfect for a pro bono referral because they cannot be easily resolved in a quick-advice clinic setting.

For example, in 2006, he was referred a spousal support case from Lakeshore Legal Aid. A Judgment of Divorce had been entered, but the qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) had not been filed. Not only did Conway file it, but he also successfully petitioned for his client, a domestic violence survivor, to receive past due spousal support from the time the judgment was entered until the QDRO filed. To this day, the client is still receiving $500 per month in past due support in addition to the $1000 per month owed under the QDRO.

Catherine McGee, the pro bono coordinator at Lakeshore Legal Aid, described Conway's work on the case as "going above and beyond her expectations."

Conway is a great example to all attorneys of the immense impact that doing one's part can have. By coming together, one by one, the legal community will take a giant step toward alleviating the unmet legal needs of Michigan's low-income citizens.

—Benjamin Ensroth (Robert Mathis and Lynn Ingram contributed to this story.)