High Point University Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law is proud to recognize Diana Santos Johnson, Assistant Director of Career Development, for her role in receiving the North Carolina Bar Association’s (NCBA) 2026 Pro Bono “Filling the Justice Gap” Award.
The “Filling the Justice Gap” Award honors attorneys, law firms, and organizations working to close the legal services gap for individuals who do not qualify for free legal services but cannot afford legal representation. The North Carolina Bar Association Bankruptcy Section and its Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs, Jamey Lowdermilk and Diana Santos Johnson, received this award in recognition of their innovative efforts to expand consumer bankruptcy access to legal services for underserved communities across North Carolina by developing and managing the Bankruptcy Pro Bono Network, a referral list of consumer bankruptcy attorneys who agree to assist income-eligible North Carolinians on a pro bono basis. The award was presented on June 26, 2026, at the NCBA’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC. To learn more about the award, visit the NCBA’s website.
Before joining HPU Law, Diana practiced business and consumer bankruptcy law and is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy Law. She has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to pro bono service and community engagement and has been recognized for her professional and civic leadership through honors including the NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award, the American Bankruptcy Institute’s “40 Under 40,” and multiple years of recognition in the NC Pro Bono Honor Society.
At HPU Law, Diana has helped launch the school’s growing Pro Bono Program, which creates meaningful opportunities for students to engage in community service, professional development, and public interest work while in law school. To learn more about the HPU Law Pro Bono Program, click here. To learn more about the past HPU Law Pro Bono projects, click here.
Founding Dean and former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Mark Martin had this to say:
“We take great pride in seeing a member of our law school community honored with this professional service award. This recognition highlights not just Diana’s dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence, but also embodies the spirit of service that is the cornerstone of our law school community. Legal education is much more than what happens inside the classroom; our staff plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our students by serving as inspiring role models. Through their ongoing contributions and service, they help elevate the profession and reinforce the values that define our institution.”