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Susan Villarreal
March 2009
By Stacy
Rupprecht Butler
Susan Villarreal
has been selected by
Southern Arizona
Legal Aid’s Volunteer
Lawyers Program
(VLP) as the Outstanding
Pro Bono Attorney
of the Month for March.
Susan joined the
VLP in 2002 and has been
a frequent
participant in the program ever
since. She
assists VLP clients with wills
and small estate
issues. Susan was
selected to
receive this award for her
willingness to
help clients whenever called
upon. She does
not hesitate to accept complex or difficult matters. In addition,
Susan has
wonderful office staff that are patient and kind with VLP clients.
The
VLP’s monthly award is a
distinct honor: of the 1220 attorneys who volunteer
their time with
VLP, only 12 receive the VLP’s Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney
award each year.
Q & A with Susan
Villarreal:
Where are you
from?
I grew up in
Clifton, Arizona. I am a third generation Arizonan. My great
grandmother came
here in a covered wagon, chewed tobacco, delivered my
mother and could
shoot a chicken hawk out of the sky.
What is the
history of your practice of law?
I clerked for US
District Judge Richard Bilby for eight years before going into
private practice
in the area of estates and trusts.
What drives you to
volunteer with VLP?
Some people are
offended that I will not give them free legal advice. The VLP
clients are always
appreciative and grateful. One VLP client gave me a photo
of her and her
mother which I have in my office and value.
Things you do when
not working or volunteering your legal services.
I am Chair of the
Board of the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council. This is such a worthy
organization
teaching girls to be our future leaders that I don’t mind the hours
and
the travel.
Worst thing about
being an attorney in Tucson?
Having to practice
occasionally in Maricopa County.
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Past Pima
County Monthly Award Winners
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