Attorney James C. Boerigter is well known and well respected for his dedication to providing help to those who otherwise would not be able to afford legal services. His great passion for pro bono work and equal access to justice has helped him develop a keen awareness of the tremendous unfulfilled legal needs of the financially disadvantaged. As a result, he volunteers a great deal of time to staffing free legal clinics organized by local bar associations and accepts numerous pro bono referrals from legal aid.

Boerigter served as president of the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Bureau of Southwestern Michigan, which eventually merged into Legal Aid of Western Michigan. During his tenure, he was a tireless advocate for pro bono, urging his fellow Michigan lawyers to give not only their money, but also their time, to help those in need. For his exceptional efforts, Boerigter was awarded the Legal Aid of Western Michigan’s John N. Vlachos Award in 2007. He continues to serve on the Board for Legal Aid of Western Michigan and remains an ardent supporter of their cause. His work has also been helpful to judges across southwest Michigan who have faced rising pro se filings and the need for pro bono representation. Meanwhile, he maintains a successful family and criminal law practice as managing partner of Kreis Enderle Hudgins & Borsos, PC.

Boerigter’s friends and colleagues consider him an attorney for the people. The Honorable Stephen D. Gorsalitz commended him for his remarkable devotion to pro bono and legal aid work, saying, “I have heard Jim speak at countless bar association and legal aid functions about the tremendous need for legal assistance for the financially disadvantaged. His work both in a legal aid office as well as in a courtroom exhibits what an attorney should strive to be: a poised and courteous litigator, well versed in the rules of evidence, court rules, and the law.”

—Jacklyn Thomas, Robert Mathis, and Lynn Ingram contributed to this story.