Michigan Supreme Court Cites Pro Bono Institute in Recent Decision Allowing Pro Bono Fee Award
By: Hena Mehta, Sheehan Summer Law Clerk (2023) On July 26, 2023, The Supreme Court of Michigan issued a landmark decision in Woodman v. Department of Corrections regarding pro bono representation as it relates to an attorney fee award amount.[1] The question of whether a reasonable attorney fee award can be lessened based on representation being provided on a pro bono basis was a case of first impression in the state of Michigan.[2] Among other key points, the highest court made clear in their ruling that “pro bono representation is not an appropriate consideration in determining the reasonableness of attorney