Emerging Excellence in Advocacy Award

Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq. 

Veterans Advocacy Project Supervising Attorney
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Richard Prebil serves as the Veterans Advocacy Project Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP). In just seven years of practice, he has transformed veterans' access to legal services and was instrumental in establishing LASP’s Veterans Advocacy Project, developing it into a four-person unit that provides representation, advice, and outreach to veterans, specifically those who are unhoused, at risk of becoming unhoused, income insecure, and those living with disabilities. His advocacy focuses primarily on matters involving complex VA benefits appeals, discharge upgrades, and military sexual trauma cases, which has resulted in over $2.8 million in retroactive benefits for veterans.

Richard collaborates with MidPenn and North Penn Legal Services to serve veterans in 20 counties. He also teaches "Representing Veterans in Administrative Practice" at Villanova Law School and serves on U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean's Veterans Advisory Panel. Richard is widely respected by his colleagues and peers for his compassionate, trauma-informed approach to advocacy.

Before joining LASP, he served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at a nonprofit in Philadelphia, where he represented veterans, active military personnel, and their families in veterans' benefits, discharge upgrades, and Chapter 7 bankruptcies.

Richard was nominated for this award by Shawn Boehringer and Marion Fraley.
 

Outstanding Attorney Advocate Award

Maripat Pileggi, Esq. 

Divisional Supervising Attorney
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 

Maripat Pileggi is the Divisional Supervising Attorney in the Health & Independence Unit of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), where she has worked since 2007.

Her legal practice focuses on helping seniors, people with disabilities, families, immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, and other low-income Philadelphians overcome a wide range of legal barriers to public benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, TANF cash assistance, and LIHEAP.

Prior to this position, she worked as a law student intern with CLS’s Energy Unit, the Women’s Law Project, the Transnational Legal Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia. She has also served as an AmeriCorps corps member in Philadelphia and as a volunteer teacher at Philadelphia’s Nationalities Service Center. 

Maripat received the Equal Justice America summer fellowship award in 2006 and the Equal Justice Works summer scholarship award in 2005. She served as the Executive Editor of Production on the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law from 2006-2007.

Maripat earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2007. She graduated summa cum laude from Temple University with a B.A. in English in 2001.

Maripat was nominated for this award by Debby Freedman and Lydia Gottesfeld.
 

Kevin Quisenberry, Esq.

Litigation Director
Community Justice Project

Kevin Quisenberry is the Litigation Director at the Community Justice Project. Since joining the organization in 2003, he has worked to protect the rights of marginalized and low-income Pennsylvanians through strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and community lawyering. A significant focus of his work is enforcing the rights of renters and homeowners under constitutional and civil rights laws.

Kevin’s class action litigation and successful challenges to public housing displacement policies, eviction practices, and administrative grievance procedures has transformed housing protections in Pennsylvania and established him as one of Pennsylvania's leading impact litigators.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he coordinated advocacy to minimize housing instability and helped establish sustainable programs like RentHelpPGH. His work also led to the enactment of Pittsburgh’s Lead Safety Law, protecting children from lead exposure in rental homes.

Kevin regularly collaborates with regional legal aid programs and has built strong relationships with fair housing organizations in Pittsburgh and across the state. He considers working alongside his colleagues at CJP and throughout the PLAN Network one of the great privileges of his career. 

Kevin was nominated for this award by Marielle Macher and Peter Zurflieh.
 

Outstanding Non-Attorney Advocate Award 

Diane Gurner

Intake Administrator and Compliance Specialist
Summit Legal Aid

For nearly four decades, Diane Gurner has been the compassionate first point of contact for thousands of clients. Starting her career at Laurel Legal Services at just 19 years old, Diane has grown from her initial reception position to her current dual role as Intake Administrator and Compliance Specialist. Her commitment to clients and her willingness to take on new challenges have made her an indispensable part of her organization.

After the merger of Laurel Legal Services and Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services into Summit Legal Aid, Diane took on additional compliance responsibilities while continuing to prioritize a thorough intake process that sets the stage for effective legal representation.

Diane is driven by a steadfast belief that legal assistance should be accessible to all who need it, a value that has fueled her dedication to the legal aid community. In her intake role, she ensures that every client is treated with dignity and respect, offering a listening ear and reassurance that help is available.

In her compliance role, Diane meticulously maintains and organizes all case files, ensuring strict adherence to funding guidelines across the entire program. She is frequently commended by her colleagues for her efficiency and dependability, with many recognizing her behind-the-scenes contributions as a driving force behind Summit’s operational success.

Diane was nominated for this award by Brian Gorman and Todd Yeager.
 

Outstanding Pro Bono Advocacy Award 

Carol S. McCarthy, Esq. 

Partner
McCarthy McEnroe Rosinski & Joy

Carol McCarthy, a partner at McCarthy McEnroe Rosinski & Joy, has spent her entire career advocating for equal justice, beginning as a staff attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) before transitioning into private practice as a family law attorney.

While at NLS, Carol helped establish a shelter for abused women in the Allegheny Valley. She later served on their Board of Directors, including as Board President from July 2012 to June 2014. Carol continues to volunteer as a pro bono advocate for NLS, representing more than 2,300 low-income clients in custody and Protection from Abuse cases over the past eight years. She is particularly devoted to providing services in Butler County, where she is often the only pro bono attorney.

Carol has made improving civil legal services a professional priority. In that effort, she serves on a variety of bar association committees, locally and statewide. Her exemplary service has earned her numerous awards, including the Carol Los Mansmann Helping Hand Award, the Susan B. Anthony Award, and the Allegheny County Bar Foundation Presidential Merit Award.

In addition to her volunteer work, Carol remains active on the PBA’s Legal Services to the Public Committee and mentors legal aid staff. Her dedication to supporting domestic violence survivors and low-income families exemplifies the highest ideals of pro bono service.

Carol was nominated for this award by Kris Bergstrom.
 

Samuel W. Milkes Outstanding Leadership Award

Phyllis Guillaume 

Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration
Regional Housing Legal Services & Pennsylvania Utility Law Project

For four decades, Phyllis Guillaume has been a pillar of Pennsylvania’s legal aid community and a driving force behind the strength and sustainability of the organizations that serve our most vulnerable populations. Through her steady and generous approach, Phyllis has built a lasting legacy across the state—guiding organizations through transitions, mentoring countless individuals, and developing systems that help our clients thrive.

Phyllis launched her career in 1984 as an Accountant at the Pennsylvania Legal Services Center (PLSC), which later became the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.). Her keen financial acumen quickly earned her promotion to Controller in 1989, a position she held for 11 years. During a pivotal transition period in the early 1990s, she stepped into the role of Acting Director, where she skillfully navigated the merger of two legal aid programs while overseeing the finances of the statewide network.

Phyllis currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration for Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS) and the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP). Since 2000, she has played a vital role in managing the financial operations and administration of both organizations, which have seen tremendous growth under her leadership.

Beyond her core financial responsibilities, Phyllis oversees complex financial systems that must comply with diverse funding requirements, helps staff in securing appropriate benefits, and provides insightful direction on ways to strengthen operational efficiency.

Most recently, Phyllis developed and managed systems to coordinate the distribution of $5 million through the Community Redevelopment Legal Assistance Program, which provided essential funding to underserved communities in Pennsylvania. Her expertise has also been instrumental in supporting the Pennsylvania Health Law Project through financial record keeping.

Her influence extends far beyond just financial stewardship—Phyllis has been a mentor, trusted advisor, and friend to numerous finance directors and program leaders across Pennsylvania. Colleagues consistently describe her as “the consummate professional,” bringing patience, kindness, and creativity to every situation. As one network leader noted, “Phyllis is resolute in her dedication to the mission of legal services and steady in the face of crisis—always rising to any challenge.”

Though she has often worked behind the scenes, her mark on civil legal services in Pennsylvania has been profound. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Phyllis received a PLAN, Inc. Excellence Award in 2011.

As Phyllis prepares for retirement later this year, this award honors her decades of service, guidance, and transformational impact—all of which will continue to benefit Pennsylvanians for generations to come.

Phyllis was nominated for this award by Liz Marx and Dina Schlossberg.