As the 25-26 Law Firm Campaign approaches the deadline, we’re highlighting members of Colorado’s legal community whose leadership and generosity help expand access to justice.
For Kenzo Kawanabe, supporting legal aid is both a professional responsibility and a personal commitment.
A partner at Olson Grimsley Kawanabe Hinchcliff & Murray LLC and former Legal Aid Foundation board member, Kenzo has long championed access to justice for Coloradans who otherwise could not afford legal representation.
“Legal Aid and Colorado Legal Services help fill the justice gap. CLS provides free legal representation to low-income Coloradans including seniors and veterans.” Kenzo said. “We know that civil legal representation helps keep Coloradans housed, fed, and safe.”
Throughout his career, Kenzo has encouraged others in the legal profession to support legal aid as well. More than a decade ago, he helped launch the Associates Campaign to inspire the next generation of lawyers to invest in access to justice.
“Lawyers are the guardians of the Rule of Law, and our system only works when clients have access to legal representation,” Kenzo said. “For those considering getting involved, I would encourage them to become part of a movement that maintains one of the key foundations of our society and provides access to justice.”
Kenzo believes support from law firms and legal professionals is essential to preserving fairness and strengthening communities. “Without access to justice, our societal fabric crumbles,” he said. “America is built on a foundation of fairness, and access to justice is a key component of this foundation.”
Reflecting on his own legal career, Kenzo points to the oath he took as a lawyer as a guiding principle for his continued support of legal aid. “When I became a lawyer, my oath included that ‘I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed.’ I fulfill my oath by donating my time and treasure to this worthy cause.”
We are grateful for Kenzo’s leadership, generosity, and longstanding commitment to expanding access to justice in Colorado.