The Tennessee Bar Association has named Richard Gossett of Baker Donelson the 2021 recipient of its Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award.
The Harris Gilbert Award recognizes significant pro bono work by a private attorney.
The award is given to an attorney who has contributed considerable amounts of pro bono work, either in terms of the number of cases handled or the significance of the work, as well as one who demonstrates dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor.
Gossett was recognized for his commitment to assisting clients through Tennessee Free Legal Answers, the American Bar Association’s virtual legal clinic platform.
He provided more than 200 hours responding to questions on Free Legal Answers, making him among the largest contributors in the state.
The ABA Free Legal Answers website, which originated in Tennessee a decade ago and which Baker Donelson helped develop, has been licensed as a free service for low-income clients in 43 states.
More than 130,000 pro bono legal questions have been answered through the site, which has more than 8,300 volunteer lawyers.
As senior counsel in Baker Donelson’s Chattanooga office, Gossett concentrates on banking, business bankruptcy, reorganizations and creditors rights.
He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1995 and in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006.
Best Lawyers named Gossett the Chattanooga Lawyer of the Year in banking law in 2009 and 2014.
In 2020, Baker Donelson recognized Gossett as its Chattanooga Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.
Source: Baker Donelson