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October 6, 2008
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2008 DENISONRAY AWARD
WINNERS
Awards Recognize
Attorneys Providing Service to Low-income and Disadvantaged
Clients
ALBANY— The New York State Bar
Association's Department of Pro Bono Affairs has announced the
recipients of the Denison Ray Awards, presented biennially to legal
services staff attorneys who have distinguished themselves in providing
criminal or civil representation to low-income clients. The awards were
presented in Albanyon September
24th at the 2008 Legal
Assistance Partnership Conference attended by more than 400
people.
Each individual attorney award recipient
received a recognition award plaque, a cash award of $250, and a
one-year, free membership in the New York State Bar Association. The
nonprofit organization honoree received a cash award of $1,000 to be
used to increase the organization’s capacity to serve people in
need of legal services through pro bono efforts.
- The Civil Legal Service Award was
presented to Jason D. Hoge, Lead Counsel,
Monroe County Legal Assistance Center Re-Entry Program; and James T.
Murphy, Staff Attorney, Legal Services of Central New York
Inc.
- Andre A. Vitale, Special Assistant
Public Defender, Monroe County Public Defenders Office received the
Criminal Defender Award.
- Lillian M. Moy, Executive Director,
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc. received the Program
Director Award.
- The Worker’s Rights Law Center of New York, Inc. received the
Nonprofit Organization Award.
Biographies and photos of the winners are
available upon request.
The Denison Ray Awards were named
for Denison Ray, an advocate for the indigent who led legal services
programs in New Yorkand other states.
The Department of Pro Bono Affairs
supports pro bono activities statewide and a variety of Association
access to justice initiatives. The term “pro bono,” derived
from the Latin phrase pro
bono publico, meaning “for the public
good,” encompasses among other things, donated legal services to
the poor and disadvantaged.
The 74,000-member New York State
Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers
in New Yorkand
the largest voluntary state bar association in the
nation. Founded in 1876, NYSBA programs and
activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice
system for more than 130 years.
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