Cathy Haukedahl (’79) and Jonathan Bye (’83) Honored for Pro Bono Service

The Hennepin County Bar Association has selected Law School alumni Cathy Haukedahl (’79) and Jonathan Bye (’83) as recipients of its 2017 Pro Bono Publico awards, which  recognize significant contributions to pro bono services in the state’s largest county.

Haukedahl, winner of the Distinguished Service Award for career-long pro bono work on behalf of the community, serves as executive director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, a nonprofit focused on providing legal services for low-income people. She led MMLA through the financial turmoil of the Great Recession and was instrumental in expanding its domestic violence court projects and developing its medical-legal programs.

“I went to law school because I saw law and justice as fundamental to making the world a better place,” Haukedahl told Attorney at Law magazine.

Before joining MMLA, Haukedahl worked for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office as solicitor general and an assistant attorney general. She also worked as an attorney at Felhaber Larson in Minneapolis. She is a member of the Law School Board of Advisors.

Bye, winner of the Award for Excellence for a Private Attorney, which spotlights current or recent excellence in service by individuals, is a partner at Lindquist & Vennum. A colleague at the Minneapolis-based firm calls him the “face of pro bono.” For 20-plus years, Bye chaired or co-chaired Lindquist’s Public Service Committee.

In the community, Bye has been an active member of the Volunteer Lawyers Network, serving on the board of directors for more than a decade and chairing the board since 2009. He’s also been active with the Hennepin County Pro Bono project, helping create the District Court Referral Project, where judges can directly refer clients to VLN for services.

Haukedahl and Bye will be honored at the 37th annual Hennepin Bar Benefit on March 2 at Minneapolis Marriott City Center.