Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee_2025 Impact Report

2025 IMPACT REPORT

For 110 years, Legal Aid Society has been providing equal access to legal representation to advance a more just Milwaukee.

BRINGING LEGAL AID INTO THE COMMUNITY...

Dear friends:

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee staff addressed the many challenges of 2025 with tenacity and a steadfast commitment to ensuring equal access to legal services by getting out into the communities where our clients live, gather and work. We cannot simply wait for those in need to find us. As you will see on the following page - and throughout this report - our team delivered on that commitment through hundreds of legal clinics, educational presentations, know-your-rights workshops, in-home consultations, and more. With the addition of a 3rd lawyer in August 2025, the Health and Wealth team deepened our partnerships with the Riverworks Financial Clinic and Take Root Milwaukee to assist participants with the completion of their estate planning documents through quarterly clinics. The conservative estimate of related economic benefits of this work for Harambee residents was $2.1 million in loss prevention and $10 million in home equity stabilization for homes otherwise at risk for heirs’ property complications. The Health and Wealth team will grow this successful model with Habitat for Humanity in the year ahead.

The Consumer Protection Project brought on a fourth lawyer for a 2-year term, thanks to the award of a National Consumer Law Fellowship. Our growing team helps address a serious void in services for complex matters given the scarcity of consumer protection lawyers statewide. In 2026, the team will continue its representation in cases that put money back in our clients’ pockets and again offer services at a twiceweekly courthouse clinic

Among our largest and most longstanding practices, Legal Aid’s Guardians ad Litem (GALs) teams represent the best interests of children across a range of cases, conveying often fraught circumstances on children’s behalf as the eyes and ears of the court. This crucial work performed by our GAL teams of attorneys, social workers and support staff impacts the stability of children and their families throughout Milwaukee County.

vict

...A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECU DIRE

Free MKE (EFM

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and conditions advice and counsel work will also continue into 2026 with a particular focus on stopping evictions before they start.

Legal Aid continues to adapt to the ever-changing immigration landscape in close collaboration with community anchor organizations, such

teer Lawyer Clinic, United Community Center, St Augustine’s Preparatory Academy, Sojourner Truth House, VIA and the Hmong American Friendship Association. During this time when residents fear leaving their homes and neighborhoods, our immigration team is providing advice and counsel around knowing one’s rights and helping individuals and families put plans in place to protect themselves.

For 2026, we will continue our vital work with excellent service delivery as our north star and an unwavering optimism for the good we can accomplish together locally.

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee is here for our clients to ensure that voices are heard and the law works for everyone. Thank you more than ever for supporting our work!

Eviction Free attorney Joshua Kather and Health & Wealth

attorney Connor Gorrell, here with

paralegal Cheyenne Rupert, teamed up to visit the home of an Amani neighborhood resident to finalize her estate planning.

From the courthouse to our clients’ homes - and everywhere in between - Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee’s dedicated team demonstrated their shared belief in the power of the legal profession to improve lives.

6,367 6,367 CLIENTS SERVED, INCLUDING:

1,150 1,150 INDIVIDUALS REACHED THROUGH:

300+300+ COMMUNITY PARTNER AND COURTHOUSE CLINICS

IN THE WORDS OF OUR CLIENTS

Legal Aid showed me

their deep concern for

my well being through

their dedication.

From the first moment

of my case, I was heard and treated with

respect.

I had an amazing experience being represented

throughout my whole court case process. I felt like I had a voice and was able to have a great outcome in

my case.

People like me would

not have a chance

outside of the amazing

people [at Legal Aid].

They fight for the

voiceless.

I appreciate everything

[my attorney] did for

my family and me. If it

wasn’t for him, we

would probably still be

unhoused.

EVICTION FREE MKE

Eviction Free MKE is A Right to Counsel program that helps residents navigate the eviction process, while advocating for fair housing practices and stabilizing households.

CORE SERVICES

Our team provides: eviction defense to tenants served with an eviction summons and complaint; critical pre- and post-eviction services involving termination notices, habitable conditions, lock-outs, and security deposit recovery.

2,855 p.5

CLIENTS SERVED THIS YEAR

Since this program launched in 2021, Eviction Free MKE has now reached more than 31,000 individuals

2025 HIGHLIGHTS/ACHIEVEMENTS

EFM has both been extended for a fifth year (2026) and was expanded to serve Waukesha Coun

Our EFM attorneys represented 17% of all Milwaukee County households facing an eviction

Legal Aid assisted 540 individuals with sealing prev

s to improve their housing opportunities moving forw

ur monthly clinics

EFM continued to generate millions of dollars in estimated fiscal and economic activity benefits for Milwaukee County* by helping residents remain in their homes

GUARDIANS AD LITEM

Legal Aid’s Guardian ad Litem teams represent the best interests of at-risk children and minors as court-appointed GALs in both Children’s Court and Family Court.

CORE SERVICES

Our teams provide representation in matters involving custody, visitation, guardianship, restraining order, and termination of parental rights cases; often involving multiple daily court appearances where Legal Aid’s lawyers apply the law with the utmost compassion and professionalism.

CLIENTS SERVED THIS YEAR

679 2,163 in Family Court in Children’s Court

2025 HIGHLIGHTS/ACHIEVEMENTS

Legal Aid’s original GAL program was launched in 1970 - completing its 55 year working solely to advance the best interests of our community’s young people th Staff Attorney Lindsay Ruch was elected to the Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin Board of Directors Assistant Managing Attorney Courtney Roelandts authored an article in the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Children and the Law publication, advocating for a proposed amendment that will allow children to have a voice in their placements following termination of parental rights decisions

p. 6

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Legal Aid’s Consumer Protection Project specializes in providing legal remedies for exploitative practices and abuses against individuals of limited economic means.

CORE SERVICES

Garnishments

Debt

Student

Auto

Repossessions

Harassment

Car

Chapter

CLIENTS SERVED THIS YEAR

Legal Aid launched our Immigration practice in 2023 to address the growing demand for attorneys to represent those who have sought a new beginning in Milwaukee.

CORE SERVICES

INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO IMMIGRATION RESOURCES THIS YEAR

2025 HIGHLIGHTS / BY THE NUMBERS

CORE SERVICES

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT

Legal Aid’s Community Redevelopment work reinforces our commitment to supporting the otherwise unrepresented and unheard residents of Milwaukee County.

OUR APPROACH

Legal Aid Society’s work is important to this community because we provide accessible legal services to individuals that often face language barriers, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination. We help ensure that immigrants, low-income residents, and marginalized groups are able to understand and exercise their rights.

109th ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON

Serving as a celebration of what we have accomplished and a continued call to action, this year’s luncheon brought together 400 members of our legal, government, business, municipal, law enforcement and civic communities. We raised a record amount of critical funds to advance our Eviction Free MKE program, while also honoring the exemplary contributions to our organization and the greater Milwaukee community of those who uphold equal justice with our Thomas G. Cannon Equal Justice Medal.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

THOMAS G. CANNON EQUAL JUSTICE MEDALISTS PROGRAM SPEAKERS

I am incredibly encouraged by what I see here in Milwaukee. From you...from the reports...and from what we know from the national movement. This is doable. It works. And it’s the right thing to do.

THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS

PRESENTING ($25,000)

CANNON & DUNPHY

FOLEY & LARDNER

PLATINUM ($20,000-$24,999)

CHRIS & JENNIFER ABELE

SILVER ($10,000-$14,999)

BADER PHILANTHROPIES

MARTIN LAW OFFICE

QUARLES & BRADY

BRONZE ($5,000-$9,999)

BADER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

CRIVELLO, NICHOLS & HALL

RALPH EVINRUDE FOUNDATION

GODFREY & KHAN

MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FOUNDATION

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION

TABLE ($1,000-$2,499)

AMUNDSEN DAVIS

TOM & NANCY CANNON

COMMUNITY ADVOCATES

EZEKIEL HOPE, CDC

COLLEEN FOLEY & KENT REDDING

GASS TUREK, LLC

GIMBEL, REILLY, GUERIN & BROWN, LLP

MICHAEL & ROBIN GONRING

GRUBER LAW OFFICES

HALLING & CAYO

HUPY & ABRAHAM

HUSCH BLACKWELL

REINHART BOERNER VAN DUREN, sc

von BRIESEN & ROPER

FRIENDS ($2,500-$4,999)

AFTECHNICAL ASSOCIATEDBANK

HABUSHHABUSH&ROTIER FOUNDATION/FIRM

JOHNSONCONTROLS OLDNATIONALBANK

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL

MILWAUKEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

O’NEILL, CANNON, HOLLMAN, DeJONG & LAING

STATE BAR OF WISCONSIN

THE COLBY ABBOT BUILDING & THE RAILWAY

EXCHANGE BUILDING

THE DIFFERENCE PRINCIPLE

THE FAMILY OF RONALD & LINDA POLAN

THE OFFICE OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY at the

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE

WIPFLI, LLP

• Lynn Adelman

• Linda Anick

INDIVIDUAL DONOR HONOR

• Anthony J Anzelmo

• Kori Ashley

• Paul Bargren

• Amy Baudhuin

• Barbara Becker

• William Bergum

• Paul Bernstein

• Melissa Bleidorn

• Bernard Bobber

• Larry J. Bonney

• Peter Boylan

• Nikki Brazy

• Mardi and Rick Bridich

• James L. Brown

• Joan and Peter Bruce

• Elaine Burke

• Thomas Bush

• Louis B Butler Jr

• William Callahan

• Mary Cannon

• Harry Carlson

• Jane Carroll

• Joe Cayen

• Milton L Childs

• James Clark

• Pedro A Colon

• Dan Conley

• Gwendolyn G Connolly

• Gerald Coon

• Susan Corlett

• David Cox

• Joshua B. Cronin

• Frank Daily

• Deborah Daley

• Dale Darrow

• David DeBruin

• Nikki DeGuire

• Jean DiMotto

• Merrick Domnitz

• Joe Donald

• Steven Duback

• Hannah C Dugan

• Thomas C Dunst

• Larry Dupuis

Please direct any errors or omissions

• Dennis Eiffler

• Mary Elliot

• Thomas Fahl

• Stephen M Fisher

• Mary Flanner

• Thomas W Florsheim Sr

• Matthew Fortman

• Colleen Galambos

• Stacy C Gerber Ward

• Matthew Gerdisch

• Josh L. Gimbel

• Jeffrey Gingold

• Mark Grady

• Sara Greenen

• James Groat

• Tom Grossman

• Jeremy Gutner

• Michael Hatch

• Gabriella Heinemann

• Theodore B Hertel Jr

• Zachary Higbee

• Sheila Hill-Roberts

• Husch Blackwell - GMF

• Hannah Jahn

• Molly Jasmer

• Sarah Johnson

• Terry Johnson

• Andrew Jones

• Chuck Kahn

• Andrew Kane

• Katie Kegel

• Rebecca Kiefer

• Jean Kies

• Richard Kobriger

• Susan M. Koehne

• Mary Krolikowski

• Elizabeth Krueger

• Katherine Lambert

• Maria Ledger

• W H Levit Jr

• Doug and Patti Levy

• Colin Looney

• Paula Lorant

• Kent Lovern

• Earnell Lucas

• Lois Malawsky

• Sco

• Jea

• Jud

• E M

• Mary McCann

• Dana McCormick

• Neil McGinn

• Mark Metz

• Christy Miller

• Linda Miller

• Reyna Morales

• Raymond D. Nass

• Jennifer Nissen

• Janet Olsen

• Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation

• Maggie Quinn

• Peter Ramirez

• John Remington

• Greg W Renz

• Jon Richards

• Margaret H Richards

• Daniel Riedl

• Robert B Rondini

• Dan Ryan

• David Sauceda

• Shauna Singh Baldwin

• Florence Steinberger

• Ralph Stockhausen

• Peter J Stone

• Jeffrey P Sweetland

• Tim Trecek

• Catherine Tully

• John Van Uxem

• Julia Vosper

• Jeffrey A. Wagner

• William Ward

• Phyllis Wax

• Benjamin Wells

• Jeralyn Wendelberger

• Daniel Woehrer

• Lee Wolcott

• Margaret Wrenn Hickey

• Stanford Wynn

• Spencer Yurkowitz

• Tom Zander

iend

FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT

Board for 11 years We now welcome two (2) new Board members -- Professor Jacob Hamburger of Marquette University Law School and Christopher J Schreiber of Michael Best They round out a group of distinguished professionals from the city’s pre-eminent law firms and corporations, thoughtfully providing fiscal and policy oversight, strategic planning, subject matter expertise, and significant personal financial support for the organization.

This year will once again present new challenges and opportunities. Legal Aid’s Board looks forward to working with Executive Director Colleen Foley and her team in continuing to deliver impactful, high quality legal service

2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We help protect individual rights. We protect family rights. In so doing, we help aid the fair and efficient administration of justice. And we’ve been doing it for 109 years.

STACY C. GERBER WARD | President

von Briesen & Roper

NORA M. PLATT | Vice President

Northwestern Mutual

GUY R TEMPLE | Secretary

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, SC

PATRICK O. DUNPHY | Treasurer

Cannon & Dunphy, SC

ANTHONY J. ANZELMO

Husch Blackwell

SEAN O’D BOSACK

Godfrey & Kahn, SC

HON. LOUIS B. BUTLER, JR.

Dewitt, LLP Law Firm (Retired)

JOSHUA L. GIMBEL

Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP

JACOB HAMBURGER

Marquette University Law School

COLIN LOONEY

Johnson Controls

KRISTIN OCCHETTI

Quarles & Brady, LLP

CHRISTOPHER J SCHREIBER

Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP

PETER J. STONE

Foley & Lardner, LLP

TIMOTHY S. TRECEK

Habush Habush & Rottier, SC

DANIELLE WHITE

Rockwell Automation