Baltimore Office Receives Pro Bono Award; Michelle McGeogh Assumes Leadership Role

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA), the largest provider of free, civil legal services to low-income and underserved residents statewide, named Ballard Spahr its Pro Bono Partner of the Year at its annual awards event this week.

The award, announced during MLA’s 2023 Equal Justice Council Awards Breakfast, with Governor Wes Moore as the keynote speaker, recognizes Ballard Spahr's pro bono efforts over the past year, as well as the firm's support of the Equal Justice Council. The EJC, comprising legal and business leaders, supports MLA through fundraising and advocacy.

During the awards breakfast on May 16, Michelle M. McGeogh, a partner in Ballard Spahr’s Baltimore office, was appointed EJC Co-Chair, in recognition by her peers in Maryland’s legal community of her commitment to equal justice in the state. In her role as a coordinator of pro bono activities in the firm’s Baltimore office, Ms. McGeogh works closely with MLA to connect Ballard Spahr lawyers with pro bono clients for a full range of civil legal needs, focused on protecting basic needs and human rights. She has served on the EJC for nearly four years and, prior to that, served as a member of Equal Justice Associates, a related group for prominent lawyers under age 40.

In her practice, Ms. McGeogh represents property owners, commercial landlords, investors, and developers in real estate litigation, and advises employers across industries in a broad range of employment matters and disputes.

The lawyers in Ballard Spahr’s Baltimore office contribute thousands of hours of pro bono work annually to a variety of individuals and organizations, including in civil rights, asylum, economic development, home ownership, juvenile justice, and nonprofit advice matters.

For media inquiries, please contact Bill Shralow at 215.864.8195.