Kids in Need of Defense (“KIND”) has recognized Williams & Connolly Discovery Attorney Indira-Josina Martell as its Pro Bono Advocate of the Year.  Indira began working with KIND in the beginning of 2020, representing unaccompanied children in immigration court and before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  As Indira affirmed during KIND’s Celebration of Pro Bono in 2021, she believes that pro bono legal service “is as critical to the legal field and the development of individual practice, as it is to democratic ideals of justice and equity.”  Indira also emphasized that she is “one of many who are honored and humbled to be of service to this pro bono mission and vision, and encourage[s] other lawyers to join [them].” 

Founded in 2008 by the Microsoft Corporation and UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie to address the gap in legal services for unaccompanied minors, KIND is a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization devoted to the protection of unaccompanied and separated children.  Since its inception, KIND has received referrals for more than 27,000 cases and now serves over 5,900 children annually in partnership with nearly 700 law firm, corporate, law school and bar association partners.  To learn more about the KIND organization, please visit their website here.