Racquel Muindi Receives Pro Bono Award From the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Racquel A. Muindi, an associate in Ballard Spahr's Los Angeles office, has received this year’s Associates Advisory Board Pro Bono Attorney Award from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) in recognition of her service to clients in need.

LAFLA’s Associates Advisory Board (AAB) awarded Ms. Muindi the honor at an event June 22 in recognition of her pro bono representation of numerous clients over the past three years—including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—guiding them through complex expungement matters, and for her “invaluable input” on LAFLA pro bono programs.

Ms. Muindi has been a member of the AAB since 2021 and has volunteered since 2020 with LAFLA's expungement clinics, which help individuals clear their criminal records and overcome barriers to employment, housing, and education. She has assisted clients with preparing and filing petitions for dismissal or reduction of their convictions, as well as representing them at court hearings.

LAFLA is the frontline law firm for low-income people in Los Angeles. The agency seeks to achieve equal justice for people living in poverty across Greater Los Angeles through direct representation, policy advocacy, and community education. The AAB supports LAFLA's mission by raising funds, increasing awareness, and providing pro bono legal services.

Ballard Spahr attorneys in the firm’s offices across the country contribute more than 50,000 hours annually to pro bono service. They advocate for civil rights in matters involving race equity, asylum, free speech, education, and incarceration; provide tax, corporate, and other assistance to nonprofit organizations that help our communities thrive; and represent low-income individuals and families in a full spectrum of legal matters for which they would not otherwise have access to counsel.