Farr is Honored as 2007 Barnes Award Winner

Attorney William (Bill) Farr has been named this year=s recipient of Legal Aid of Western Michigan=s Michael S. Barnes Award.  The Barnes Award is presented in recognition of exemplary contributions toward the provision of free legal assistance to the poor and the elderly in western Michigan. The Award was presented at a reception on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at which Mr. Farr was honored by more than 100 of his colleagues and family.

 Left to Right:  Scott Stuart, former law partner of Farr and current LAWM staff attorney who made the presentation, Michael Chielens, LAWM Executive Director; Farr, and Paul Abrahamsen, director of the Pro Bono Program.

Farr continues to be an active participant in the  Pro Bono Program.   Having accepted many case referrals and donated more than 175 hours of time to the poor through direct client representation, he has worked tirelessly at an age when most attorneys have already retired.  Most of the cases Farr has handled involve expertise which is not readily available through Legal Aid which allows clients to receive assistance that they otherwise may not have been provided. Farr has taken many cases at the >eleventh hour= which have required his immediate attention.  Also, many of the cases Bill has handled involve matters in some of Legal Aid=s rural counties where both private and in-house resources are very limited.  Bill also volunteers his time to meet with and counsel individuals at the Degage Ministries.

A 1961 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Bill is a founding partner and shareholder of the firm of Farr, Oosterhouse & Krissoff.  His professional activities with the State Bar of Michigan include: Member of the State Bar Representative Assembly; Judicial Qualification Committee; Attorney Discipline Board/Hearing Panelist; Special Counsel for the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission;   His professional service with the Grand Rapids Bar Association include:  Board of Trustees; Vice President; President-elect; President; Judicial Review Committee, Crisis In Courts Committee; Trustee of the Grand Rapids Bar Foundation;

The Award is named in memory of Michael S. Barnes, who was a partner in the Grand Rapids firm of Smith, Haughey, Rice & Roegge   Michael was a dominant force in providing legal services to the poor in West Michigan.  Barnes served on Legal Aid Board of Directors from 1973-1984 and was the first chairperson of the Pro Bono Committee of Legal Aid.  Michael was also the first recipient of the State Bar of Michigan=s John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award.

Barnes' former law firm Smith, Haughey, Rice & Roegge generously cosponsors the annual event with Legal Aid of Western Michigan.