Published: August 20, 2018

By Stephanie Warsmith

Beacon Journal/Ohio.com

Akron attorney William Dowling likes helping people, as well as giving legal advice.

Among the highlights of his nearly 40-year legal career is a popular program that guides low-income Akron-area residents through the process of getting their driver’s licenses reinstated.

“We can’t get their licenses back for them, but we can tell them what they have to do,” Dowling said. “I am convinced that we have helped many of them and that, if nothing else, we have demonstrated we care.”

Dowling’s work with the license program and his other pro bono efforts have earned him statewide recognition. He is one of two attorneys who will receive the 2018 John and Ginny Elam Pro Bono Award, an honor given annually by the Ohio State Bar Association. He will attend an awards ceremony in Columbus Thursday.

“Bill deserves this award because he never stops pushing for attorneys to do pro bono work and he also leads with programs and on boards so that the people who need it the most get help,” said Barberton Judge Todd McKenney, who has assisted Dowling with the license program and nominated him for the pro bono award.

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