Christina L. Kime of Piedmont, Missouri was awarded the Philip S. Huffman Memorial Award by Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM) during its annual board meeting. The Philip S. Huffman Memorial Award recognizes the commitment of volunteer time to LSSM clients by a private attorney in its rural service area. The award was established in memory of Philip S. Huffman who served as a board member of LSSM from 1996 until his death in 2005. Mr. Huffman was involved in the development of Legal Aid of Southwest Missouri in the mid-1970’s. He practiced law in Hartville, Missouri for over 37 years, and had a strong commitment to LSSM and helping low-income persons in Southern Missouri.
Christina L. Kime holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Ozarks. Christina attained her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. Following her graduation, she served as law clerk at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, from 1987-1989.
Christina is a solo practitioner in Piedmont, Missouri. She joined LSSM’s judicare panel in 1998. Christina is a fearless advocate for the poor and disadvantaged. Her willingness to help has ensured many poor and disadvantaged a chance to be heard; an opportunity they would not have had without her. Without her, no one knows how many people would have continued to be stricken by domestic violence, homelessness, and desperateness.
During her tenure of helping Legal Services clients, Ms. Kime has handled 73 cases for low-income people living in rural Missouri providing 1,831 hours of legal representation. Ms. Kime has helped 115 adults and 120 children with Medicaid, advanced directives, land/lord tenant, orders of protection, custody matters, divorces, and helped victims out of domestic violence situations.