Emery County native Mckette Allred is a lawyer living in Lawrence that practices with her husband in his firm, David M. Allred P.C. Allred graduated from BYU with a bachelor of science degree and from the University of Arkansas with a Juris Doctorate degree.
Allred recently received the Pro Bono Service of the Year Award. The award was presented to her from the Utah State Pro Bono Commission and is a statewide award. The Utah State Bar Pro Bono Commission is the statewide entity that is responsible for implementing the programs that help low-income residents of Utah with their legal issues free of charge and through a variety of programs staffed by volunteer attorneys.
According toTyler Needham, the director of access to the Justice Department, there are many reasons that Allred was chosen for this award, especially the fact that she is quick to volunteer and does it often despite her heavy workload. She has been primarily involved in taking the family law pro bono cases, which are often highly emotional and difficult cases that demand significant time and energy.
“Allred handles the cases professionally and skillfully; she knows how to represent the needs of clients who are low-income and sometimes low-functioning,” said Needhan. “She is a respected member of the legal community.”
Allred is one of many attorneys, clerks and other volunteers who are helping to bring access to justice to people in Utah that can’t afford an attorney on their own. The Seventh District Pro Bono Committee has worked to expand opportunities for individuals to get legal advice in coordination with non-profits like Utah Legal Services. Along with local attorneys taking on cases, there is also a legal clinic where individuals can go to get legal advice. Utah Legal Services holds a regular clinic at the Price District Courthouse on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 11a.m. to 2 p.m.
Needham and the other members of the Pro Bono Commission encourage individuals with legal issues to contact Utah Legal Services (800-662-4245) to see if they qualify for pro bono assistance, or to contact the Self-Help Center at the Utah State Courts (888-683-0009 or https://www.utcourts.gov/selfhelp/) for information on legal resources that may be available to them.