Kate Conyers, Esquire

2016 Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – Kate Conyers, Esquire, has been selected to receive the prestigious Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service by the American Inns of Court. The award will be presented at the annual American Inns of Court Celebration of Excellence at the Supreme Court of the United States in November; the event will be hosted by Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

Conyers is a felony attorney with the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, where since 2011 she has represented hundreds of indigent defendants in all aspects of their criminal cases. She has defended clients at dozens of jury trials and bench trials. She also worked at SLLDA as a clerk before two stints in private practice, at Snell & Wilmer, LLP, and Lokken and Associates.

In addition to public service at SLLDA, Conyers devotes 150 to 300 hours annually to helping Utah citizens in civil matters on a pro bono basis. She has served on the executive committee of Emerging Legal Leaders for the “And Justice for All” program, an umbrella organization that provides resources to Utah’s nonprofit civil legal aid agencies. She has been an active volunteer in bar-related programs including Wills for Heroes and Serving Our Seniors.

Conyers was elected by members of the Utah State Bar to the Board Bar of Commissioners, where she serves as the Bar liaison to the Pro Bono Commission. She spearheaded the Veterans’ Legal Clinic at the VA Hospital on the University of Utah campus. She has been recognized with many awards including the Utah State Bar Young Lawyer of the Year Award and the Utah State Bar Pro Bono Publico Young Lawyer of the Year Award. She is an active member of the David K. Watkiss-Sutherland II American Inn of Court.

Conyers earned her J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, where she served as the note and comment editor on the Journal of Law and Family Studies. She also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Utah.