March 1, 2010
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION SEEKS NOMINEES FOR
20TH ANNUAL PRESIDENT’S PRO BONO SERVICE AWARDS
Recipients Must Demonstrate an Outstanding
Commitment to Providing Free Legal Counsel to Those in Need
ALBANY—The New York State Bar Association announced today that
it is seeking nominations for the 20th Annual President’s Pro Bono
Service Awards. The prestigious awards are bestowed each year to honor
attorneys who provide exceptional free legal services to those most in
need. The awards also highlight the importance of pro bono service in
ensuring that all New Yorkers have equal access to our justice system,
regardless of income. The awards will be presented in conjunction with
the Law Day celebration on May 3rd at the State Bar Center in
Albany.
“Unfortunately, public funding for legal assistance for the
indigent continues to shrink as demand grows. But lawyers from across
New York have stepped up and donated hundreds of thousands of hours in
free legal services. The Pro Bono Service Awards shine a spotlight on
the very best in our profession who make a very real difference in
people’s lives,” said New York State Bar Association
President Michael E. Getnick (Getnick Livingston Atkinson & Priore,
LLP of Utica and of counsel to Getnick & Getnick of New York City).
“I look forward to honoring those who work tirelessly to ensure
equal justice for all.”
A total of 20 awards will be presented including one honoree from
each of New York’s 13 judicial districts. Awards will also be
presented to a young lawyer, a senior lawyer, a large law firm, an
in-house counsel or government attorney, a small/mid-size law firm, a
law student, and a law student group.
Nominees will be judged by the number of pro bono clients and hours
served; the significance of the nominee’s work on their
client’s lives; and the overall impact of that work on addressing
New York’s pro bono needs. Winners will be selected by a committee
that includes the chairs of the President’s Committee on Access to
Justice, the Committee on Legal Aid, and the Pro Bono Coordinators
Network, as well as the director of the State Bar Association’s
Department of Pro Bono Affairs.
Anyone can submit a nomination. Nominators must submit a nomination
form, available at www.nysba.org/2010ppsanominationform,
and a statement in support of the nomination. Up to three additional
supporting statements can be submitted. Additional information about the
awards and a nomination form can be obtained by visiting www.nysba.org/probono, by emailing probono@nysba.org, or by calling
518-487-5641. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 19.
Founded in 1876, the 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is
the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the
largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. The State
Bar’s programs and activities have continuously served the public
and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.
###
| 