Bowles Cares Blog

Bowles Rice has been a long time partner with the West Virginia State Bar's West Virginia Free Legal Answers program, where attorneys can respond to legal questions from income-eligible individuals. This past summer, members of our firm – along with our 2025 summer clerks – gathered in the Charleston office to participate in the American Bar Association's Free Legal Answers Summer Associate Challenge ("ABA FLA").The team of volunteers fielded a number of questions during three lunchtime sessions, with the goal of answering as many questions as possible.

We are pleased to announce that Bowles Rice won the 2025 ABA FLA Summer Associate Challenge, answering 150 questions. This achievement marks the firm’s second consecutive victory in the competition.

Bowles Rice partner Mark Adkins, who practices from the firm's Charleston office, actively leads the front in the firm's partnership with WV FLA. He was also the team organizer and advocate for the firm's participation in the ABA FLA Summer Associate Challenge. "We are thrilled to win the ABA Free Legal Answers Challenge for the second year in a row, " said Mark. "This recognition is really about our summer clerks and attorneys who stepped up to help people in need. Their hard work shows the heart of Bowles Rice and our ongoing commitment to giving back to our communities.”

About ABA Free Legal Answers

ABA Free Legal Answers, a project of the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, is a virtual legal advice clinic. Qualifying users post their civil legal question to their state's website and volunteer lawyers provide information and basic legal advice without any expectation of long-term representation. The website increases access to advice and information about non-criminal legal matters for those who cannot afford a lawyer. There is no fee for the use of the system or for the advice and information provided by the lawyer.