Kirkland Receives a 2025 “Beacon of Justice Award” From NLADA

The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) honored Kirkland with a 2025 “Beacon of Justice Award” for our pro bono work in support of families.

In 2022, Kirkland began representing Crystal Martinez, a gender violence survivor and mother of five who was incarcerated in Illinois for nearly six years after she shot and wounded a man who was beating another woman. In 2023, the team saw an opportunity for Crystal to benefit from an Illinois statute that allows defendants to petition for resentencing if their crime was related to them having previously experienced gender-based violence. Kirkland submitted a 354-page sentencing memorandum filled with new evidence, including an expert’s report, affidavits and letters of support for a sentence reduction from more than a dozen organizations. The judge ultimately resentenced her to the six-year mandatory minimum, but with credit for time served, Crystal was released two years ahead of schedule on May 17, 2024, just in time for her daughter’s middle school graduation.

“Crystal is one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met,” said Kirkland partner Zac Ciullo. “I thank her for giving us the opportunity to represent her.”

Crystal’s case is just one example of the Firm’s commitment to strengthening families through pro bono work. In 2024, our lawyers supported 80+ survivors of gender-based discrimination and violence, as well as continued our work on Project Second Chance, which works to seal or expunge the criminal records of survivors of human trafficking who have convictions and arrests related to their abuse. In further support of families, our attorneys devoted nearly 24,000 hours last year toward matters aimed at bettering the lives of children, including through adoption and fostering.