Shook Foster Adoption Program Soars Even During Pandemic

Shook attorneys and paralegals continued their pro bono adoption efforts of foster children in Kansas despite the pandemic. Partner Madison Hatten and Retired Partner Gene Balloun completed 101 virtual adoptions March 16, 2020 through July 7, 2021.

“Thankfully the COVID shutdown did not slow down our efforts to legally finalize permanent homes for foster children in need,” stated Partner Madison Hatten, who works with Retired Shook Partner Gene Balloun and Paralegal Kathy Hoffman to help unite children with their forever families.

For the fall 2021 school year, Shook awarded $65,000 in scholarships to students who were formerly foster children in Kansas. To date, the firm has raised $1.4 million and completed more than 1,700 pro bono adoptions since the start of the program in 2001. Hatten, a product liability litigation partner, writes about her experience and encourages other lawyers to take on pro bono cases in an article published in The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association.