Three to Receive Ellick Service Award
At the Omaha Bar Association’s (OBA) Law Day luncheon, three attorneys will be honored with the Alfred G. Ellick Lawyer Referral Service Award. It is the third year for the award named in honor of the former OBA president who, in 1962, established the OBA Lawyer Referral Service (LRS).
Up until now, 118 attorneys have been recognized for their service as members of the LRS for 10 or more years.
The three Omaha attorneys receiving the award this year are Matthew S. McKeever, Richard P. McGowan and Matthew V. Rusch.
The non-profit public service, led by its public service award-winning Executive Director Donna Birkby, is designed to assist the public in accessing lawyers who practice in various areas of law. Areas in which the participating lawyers offer their expertise include criminal defense, divorce and family law, personal injury, workers’ compensation, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, real estate and other practice areas.
Matthew S. McKeever
Matthew “Matt” S. McKeever of Copple, Rockey, McKeever & Schleicht P.C., L.L.O. said he thought it would be a good way to start building in specified areas of practice when he joined the LRS in 2003. He had come to Omaha after practicing in two other jurisdictions.
“I received consults and cases in just about every area of a civil practice. For example, I check-marked ‘animal law’ and ‘agricultural law’ in the LRS application as practice areas, based upon my family’s agricultural background and my north-east Nebraska practice. Apparently very few LRS participants identified those as practice areas. As a result I received new files on diverse areas that included divorces with horses as marital property, liens secured by livestock and veterinary practices.”
McKeever said, “Being part of the LRS helped build my book of business at a time early in my practice and when I had just moved to the area. I was able to receive cases in the areas I specifically designated.
“Over the years, I received a number of significant litigation cases through the LRS including contested guardianships, contested probate cases and commercial litigation. I’ve also received clients from outside Nebraska who use the LRS to find an attorney in the area, usually for commercial litigation or a collection case.”
Don’t hesitate to sign up for the LRS, he said, “Especially if you are new to the practice of law or new to the Omaha area. There is no appreciable downside to signing up.”
He told those interested in signing up, “You will receive potential clients in practice areas that you specifically designate. Nearly all of them will show for the first appointment and pay for the consultation. Some of the potential clients will turn into cases, some will turn into significant cases, some will become ongoing clients and some will become good friends. You’d be surprised how many small to medium-sized companies have never retained counsel before and see the LRS as a trustworthy and easy way to find a lawyer to fit their immediate need.”
Asked what the award meant to him, he said, “I see the award as an opportunity to express my appreciation to Donna Birkby and the LRS for the good cases and clients I received over the years. It’s also an opportunity to inform other lawyers, especially those just starting out, that there is a good way to find some new clients in the areas of practice you enjoy.
“I’ve especially enjoyed working with Donna over the years. In addition to exercising her good sense of humor during each call, she screens the incoming calls and lets you know generally about the potential client before you accept the appointment. She will also do all the work to schedule and confirm the appointment.”
Richard P. McGowan
Richard “Rich” P. McGowan, who has fielded requests for help in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, family law, landlord/tenant and education law, called the LRS a “great way to build your practice.”
Asked how he has benefited from it, he said, “I’ve handled some unique cases – particularly with education law. I helped create new law when the Nebraska Supreme Court issued a published opinion invalidating a high school principal’s search of my client’s vehicle, and thereby expanding students’ 4th Amendment rights [in J.P. ex rel. A.P. v. Millard Public Schools, 285 Neb. 890 (Neb. 2013)].
“While most of the cases don’t have such a wide-ranging impact, they still can provide the satisfaction of helping clients who need some legal (and often times practical) advice to resolve a problem.”
The award is special, he said, as it “marks the 10-year anniversary of me starting my own practice and helping clients through some of the most challenging and difficult times of their lives.”
McGowan added, “Donna is a pleasure to work with. She listens to a client’s concerns and legal problems and then gets them to an attorney handling their type of legal issue.”
McGowan, of McGowan Law Firm, P.C., L.L.O., is a 10-year LRS panel member and serves on the OBA LRS Committee; he served four years as chair of the LRS Committee. “Rich graciously volunteered a lot of time assisting the LRS Committee on the recent addition of criminal and family subject matter panels for the LRS,” Birkby said.
Matthew V. Rusch
“I thought the LRS would be a great way to make myself available to the entire community. I have helped in landlord/tenant, personal injury and general civil litigation matters,” Matthew “Matt” V. Rusch of Erickson | Sederstrom, P.C., LLO said.
“I have enjoyed how the LRS has connected me with a diverse cross-section of clients, including business clients, but also people truly needing help.”
Does he recommend it? “I strongly recommend signing up. You will not regret it!”
Rusch added, “I truly appreciate the award, but mostly I am happy to continue working with the LRS and helping those that the LRS connects me with.”
OBA Lawyer Referral Service
The OBA Lawyer Referral Service provides referrals to callers who are located in Omaha (Douglas County) and also in the surrounding counties of Sarpy, Cass and Washington, to the lawyers listed with the LRS.
While a fee of $40 is paid to the attorney for the first 30-minute consultation, there is never a fee charged by the LRS for making a referral. No fees are charged for an initial consultation with workers’ compensation, personal injury or social security lawyers.
The Lawyer Referral Service is designed to serve those who can afford the services of a lawyer. People who cannot afford a lawyer are given the numbers to resources that provide legal services by income.
“Those attorneys who are receiving this award have shown dedication and commitment to the Lawyer Referral Service, and to the good works of the service,” OBA Executive Director Dave Sommers said.
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