Local Attorney Awarded for Pro Bono Work in Madison & Bond Counties

Attorney Deanna L. Litzenburg is honored with the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Award by the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) for providing outstanding pro bono services to low-income individuals and charitable organizations in the last year.  Stephanie McSparin, of the Madison County Sherriff’s Department, was also honored at the event with the Judge Barbarba Crowder Pro Bono Champion Award for her exceptional service and duties as a Madison County Security Officer.  The awards were presented at the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Luncheon on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.  The luncheon celebrated the inspiring and life-changing pro bono work being done in Illinois.  At the event, the guest speaker, Illinois Supreme Court Justice David K. Overstreet, spoke on the importance of advocating for justice.

Deanna L. Litzenburg is a Vice President and shareholder at Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., who focuses her practice in civil and commercial litigation, premises liability, medical malpractice, employment law and workers’ compensation. With decades of experience in the Third Judicial Circuit, she has established herself as a trusted lawyer dedicated to serving others in the community. Her passion for helping those in need is exemplified through her impressive pro bono work, where she has provided free legal services to underserved individuals throughout Illinois. Deanna actively participates in annual wills and power of attorney clinics aimed to assist U.S. veterans, which are vital in helping them secure legal wills for their families and legacies. Deanna also gives much of her time pro bono to assist those in need. She has grown to be a leader in enhancing access to justice within her community. Deanna feels a strong conviction to give back to those less fortunate.

Stephanie McSparin has served as a Madison County Court Security Officer for eighteen years and has gone above and beyond her duties to ensure everyone that comes into the courthouse is safe and treated with respect, regardless of their situation. Stephanie is always helping people who need assistance and taking the time to help them find forms and information.

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) was established in 1999 to encourage and assist law firms and corporations in developing their pro bono programs. The initiative has transformed into a hub for pro bono within the Illinois legal community, working with law firms, corporations, public interest law agencies, law schools and members of the bar and bench to increase the offering of pro bono legal services throughout Illinois.

Since 1984, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. is a law firm serving clients in the St. Louis and Southern Illinois regions. The firm has offices in Belleville and Edwardsville, Illinois, as well as St. Louis, Missouri.  MMR’s shareholders and associates possess knowledge and experience in practice areas that include business law, civil and commercial litigation, taxation, estate planning, banking law, and more. For more information, please visit www.mmrltd.com.