February 2, 2010
ONONDAGA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION RECEIVES NYS
CONFERENCE OF BAR LEADERS MEDIUM BAR ASSOCIATION AWARD OF MERIT
Award given for volunteer program helping indigent
tenants in Syracuse City Court
NEW YORK—The New York State Conference of Bar Leaders today
announced that the Onondaga County Bar Association has received its 2010
Award of Merit for Medium Bar Associations (500 – 1,999 members).
The awards honor local bars for their public service and innovative
programming that enhance the public’s understanding of the law.
Recipients were honored at a January 29 breakfast during the New York
State Bar Association’s 133rd Annual Meeting at the Hilton New
York in New York City.
The Onondaga County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer Project
was recognized for creating an eviction defense program in Syracuse that
provided indigent tenants with a “lawyer of the day” in
Syracuse City Court. As a result of these volunteer efforts in 2008, 332
people had their evictions delayed, giving them valuable extra time to
seek alternative housing. Another 96 people, from both public and
private housing, avoided eviction altogether. With funding from IOLA,
the Onondaga County Bar Association wrote and produced a training DVD
for attorneys who volunteer at the City of Syracuse Landlord Tenant
Court. The American Bar Association selected the DVD as the
“Featured Event” during its National Pro Bono Week in
October 2009.
“Local bar associations from Long Island to Buffalo play an
important role in educating the public and improving their access to the
justice system with innovative and timely programs that meet real
community needs,” 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).
“The State Bar is pleased to honor all the awardees for their
terrific work. I thank the Onondaga County Bar Association for its
excellent efforts in protecting indigent tenants’
rights.”
“The Onondaga County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer
Project has been a tremendous success in helping many low-income tenants
faced with eviction stay in their homes or give them the time to find
alternative housing,” said Linda J. Clark of Albany (Hiscock &
Barclay LLP), chair of the Conference of Bar Leaders. “I am
honored to present our Award of Merit to the Onondaga County Bar and
congratulate them on a job well done.”
Awards were given in three member categories—small, medium and
large bar associations in New York. They recognize outstanding programs
sponsored by local, ethnic, specialty, minority and women’s bar
associations. The awards program also serves to inform bar leaders of
new activities and programs that promote public welfare, public
understanding of the law, and attorneys’ professional
responsibilities.
Formed in 1979, the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders provides
a forum to exchange information about issues and activities among local
bar leaders, as well as between the state bar and local bar leaders.
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. State Bar
programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved
the justice system for more than 130 years.
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