Barristers’ Ball Takes Center Stage This Saturday Evening

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 5:00am

The 15th Annual Barrister’s Ball in 2019 was a night filled with pure imagination straight out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Much of the Omaha legal community was in attendance including, Pictured, from left, are Creighton University School of Law interim dean Mike Kelly, Sharon Hansen of Koukol & Johnson LLC and Susan Koenig, a founding partner of Koenig Dunne. (Lorraine Boyd/Daily Record/File)

Scott Stewart

The Daily Record

The Barristers’ Ball will be loosening its dress code this year, while hoping attendees will loosen their purse strings Saturday to support the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation.

The 2020 Barristers Ball will go virtual this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, with an hourlong livestream starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.

“The Nebraska Lawyers Foundation supports several programs that expand access to the justice system and work to strengthen the Nebraska legal profession,” said Jill Robb Ackerman, president of the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation and partner at Baird Holm. “It is more critical than ever for us to support our colleagues in their time of need with these services.”

The typically black-tie affair will still feature the presentation of major awards and a live auction featuring vacations and other valuable items. A silent auction is already underway, with bidding concluding at 8:15 p.m. Saturday.

The auction also allows you to enter an online raffle to win an Apple Watch Series 5. The live portion begins at 8:30 p.m. and will conclude by about 9 p.m.

Funds raised from the event support the foundation’s programs, which include the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program, Rural Practice Initiative, SOLACE and scholarships for the NSBA Leadership Academy and LSAT Prep Scholarship Program.

In addition to the auctions, four individuals will be recognized for their service to the legal community:

• Former Hall County Judge Teresa Luther will receive this year’s Robert M. Spire Pro Bono Award. Luther began the practice of law in 1976, and she became a judge of the District Court for the 9th Judicial District in 1994.

• Ann C. Mangiameli will receive a Visionary Award. Mangiameli established and has run the state’s only medical legal partnership: The Health, Education, and Law Project (HELP) at Legal Aid of Nebraska.

• Paul W. Snyder will receive a Visionary Award. Snyder is a partner at Douglas, Kelly, Ostdiek, Snyder, Ossian, Vogl, & Lookabill in Scottsbluff and encourages rural legal practice.

• Karine E. Sokpoh will receive a Visionary Award. Sokpoh has her own law firm, Sokpoh Law Group LLC in Omaha, practicing immigration, family and intellectual property law.

Visit nebar2020.home.qtego.net to view all auction items and register your device to participate in the auctions. Find more on the event by clicking here.