Legal Aid DC is proud to award this year’s Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence to Nancy Anderson for her dedication to providing pro bono legal representation for her clients.

Each year, the Klepper Prize recognizes attorneys early in their careers who have made a significant volunteer contribution to Legal Aid. Ms. Anderson will be recognized at the annual Servant of Justice Awards Dinner on April 9.

"It's an honor to be recognized in this way by my friends at Legal Aid DC,” she said. “My pro bono work with Legal Aid has been extremely rewarding – both because of the incredible clients I've had a chance to work with and also because of the support of the entire team. Legal Aid DC provides such a critical service to our community, and I'm proud to be a part of it."

Ms. Anderson, during her time as an associate at Cooley, has been among Legal Aid's most prolific pro bono attorneys over the past several years and has taken the lead on cases in one of our most complex practice areas: helping clients appeal denials of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These critical benefits provide financial support to adults unable to work due to disability and children with physical and/or mental health conditions.

“Beyond the tangible value of the legal representation she provides, Nancy goes above and beyond to ensure her clients’ voices and experiences are heard throughout their appeals process,” said Sylvia Soltis, Director of Legal Aid DC’s Pro Bono Program. “Her ability to provide sound, compassionate counsel to her clients all while expertly navigating the challenging procedural scenarios and the frustrating bureaucracy at the Social Security Administration is what makes her so worthy of this honor.”

For example, in 2022 with a hearing just around the corner, Ms. Anderson agreed to take on a pressing case of a client in his 50s. The client was no longer able to work due to severe medical issues causing chronic pain and several mental health conditions, and he needed the safety net of SSDI/SSI benefits. Ms. Anderson worked closely with her client, compiled the necessary medical records, and prepared for the hearing — at which a judge agreed to award monthly benefits. 

In this case and many others, Ms. Anderson has approached complex cases with a sharp understanding of the law and deep empathy for her clients. 

Ms. Anderson's practice at Cooley focused on helping educational institutions and education technology companies navigate and stay in compliance with the complex regulatory landscape in their industry. After nearly 10 years at Cooley, Ms. Anderson joined Holland & Knight as a Senior Counsel in late March.  She earned her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where she served as managing editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review.

Legal Aid DC looks forward to celebrating Nancy Anderson at the 34th Servant of Justice Awards Dinner on April 9, 2024, at the J.W. Marriott. As previously announced, Legal Aid DC will also present the Servant of Justice Award to civil rights leaders Debo P. Adegbile and Judge David S. Tatel.

Tickets are available online and sponsorships for the Dinner start at $10,000 for a table of 10. Please contact Rob Pergament, Director of Development, at rpergament@legalaiddc.org or (202) 661-5964 for more information about supporting the Dinner.