Zachary Bealer has been named the 2023 AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Pro Bono Champion for Missouri/Kansas chapter.

The 2023 AILA Chapter Pro Bono Champions demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono assistance through various worthy initiatives. They served by promoting justice and advocating for underserved members of the immigrant population.  

“Last year, Martinez Immigration Law, in collaboration with Asylum Clinic KC, began assisting Della Lamb in providing pro bono legal services to Afghan families evacuated during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Zach Bealer, who worked for Martinez Immigration Law, attended weekly meetings beginning in Spring 2022 and helped shape the project that would become the Missouri Afghan Legal Services project. From June 2022 until his unexpected death in December 2022, Zach conducted weekly pro bono consultations with Afghan families, completing dozens of intake interviews. He attended weekend legal services clinics and provided assistance in completing I-360s, applications for Chief of Mission approval, asylum applications, etc. – all free of charge. Zach embodied the best of our profession; he was passionate about serving immigrants, performed his work with utmost diligence, and truly cared about people. Indeed, being of service to others was a primary motivator for Zach becoming an attorney. Pro bono work was one way he achieved that goal in his short time with us.”   

Zachary graduated from GBHS in 2008. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 2012. He traveled the world and lived in Guatemala for over three years. He graduated from Washburn Law School in 2021. At the time of his death he was employed by Martinez Immigration Law in North Kansas City.  Zach’s parents are Rick Bealer and Ruth Bealer.