Jim

Cook

Nominated by Sunrise Ayers:

"February 1, 2024 marked 25 years that Jim Cook has worked at Idaho Legal Aid Services (ILAS). Throughout those years, he has served the low-income people of Idaho as a staff attorney, grant writer, deputy director and executive director of the program. Jim's excellence as an ED has led to expansion of partnerships, improvements in ILAS's reputation statewide, increases in program funding, improved employee morale and improvements to systems and processes so we better serve our clients. 

Just a few examples of achievements Jim has accomplished include: 

1) spearheading improvements to pro se materials and legal educational content on ILAS's website

2) transitioning ILAS to a centralized intake system

3) diversifying ILAS's funding sources to allow the program to grow and serve more clients

4) serving in leadership positions within the Idaho State Bar to strengthen ILAS's reputation in the legal community

5) creating Idaho's first-ever Access to Justice annual fundraising campaign

6) leading ILAS through the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner that protected staff while still allowing for robust client services

7) working with ILAS's Board to greatly improve employee morale by increasing staff salaries and improving working conditions through upgrading office spaces and technology

8) increasing services to rural Idahoans by expanding ILAS's hotlines; and 

9) launching and making continuous improvements to our online application process to increase access to our services.

Jim has accomplished so much because he is singularly focused on how every decision he makes, and how every dollar spent will improve outcomes for ILAS's clients. He has a heart for public service that comes through every day in the way he leads the program. The staff and clients of ILAS are deeply grateful for Jim's leadership and stewardship over the years."