MSBA donor spotlight: Christopher Yetka

Christopher Yetka, a shareholder at Larkin Hoffman, has been championing access to justice through Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) for more than three decades—a commitment that began with a single pro bono case that changed the trajectory of his entire legal career.

As a summer associate, Chris took on a VLN pro bono matter representing a mother seeking custody of her child after successfully completing drug treatment. Once he experienced appearing in court as a student attorney, his career path changed.

“I was hooked and changed my focus to litigation,” he recalls. “It was the right choice for me. I also became a career-long believer in pro bono service.”

Yetka has donated both his time and financial resources to civil legal aid every year of his career. His motivation is straightforward:

“I see the need in the community, and I believe the profession has an obligation to provide needed services to those who cannot afford them.”

He finds supporting VLN to be deeply fulfilling. “It is very rewarding to be able to assist someone in a difficult legal situation,” he observes. “It is also important to provide access to the legal system for everyone, given rising legal costs.”

Yetka also points to the systemic impact of helping access to justice. “Having unrepresented parties is difficult for the court system,” he says, “and creates additional costs and inefficiencies. To work smoothly, our legal system depends on effective representation for all parties.

“Lawyers are the key.”