Joe
Williams The Tennessee Bar Association awarded Vanderbilt
University law student Joe Williams its 2004-2005 Law Student
Volunteer of the Year Award. Williams received the award for his
unpaid stint at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and
the Cumberlands, where he “performed his tasks with
intellectual vigor and personal kindness,” according to
colleagues at the program. One noteworthy case he handled
involved a man who was denied his SSI benefits because he was
erroneously classified as a “fleeing felon.” Williams
succeeded in getting his client’s benefits reinstated and also
helped clarify the statute to prevent future misinterpretations.
Ryan
L. Everhart New York’s Erie County Volunteer Lawyers
Project awarded Everhart, an attorney with Hodgson Russ LLP, its
Guardianship Volunteer Award for developing a project that helps
clients secure guardianship rights to care for family members
with developmental disabilities once they reach the age of 18.
Andy
Wood The Richmond (Va.) Bar Association honored Wood with
its John C. Kenny Pro Bono Award for his work providing pro bono
representation to clients of the Central Virginia Legal Aid
Society. Described by his colleagues as having a “heart of
gold,” Wood says pro bono service is an indispensable part of
his legal career. “It’s like going to church,” he says.
Memphis
Access to Justice Committee In a 2004 report by the
American Bar Association and the National Conference of Bar
Presidents, the year-old Memphis Access to Justice Committee was
recognized as one of the “Best Projects of 2004.” The
committee, chaired by Andy Branham, pictured, is the result of a
collaborative effort by Memphis Area Legal Services, the
Community Legal Center, and the Memphis and Tennessee Bar
Associations to increase pro bono work, expand access to the
courts, and educate the Bar and the public about justice issues.
The Tennessee Bar Association awarded Vanderbilt
University law student Joe Williams its 2004-2005 Law Student
Volunteer of the Year Award. Williams received the award for his
unpaid stint at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and
the Cumberlands, where he “performed his tasks with
intellectual vigor and personal kindness,” according to
colleagues at the program. One noteworthy case he handled
involved a man who was denied his SSI benefits because he was
erroneously classified as a “fleeing felon.” Williams
succeeded in getting his client’s benefits reinstated and also
helped clarify the statute to prevent future misinterpretations.
New York’s Erie County Volunteer Lawyers
Project awarded Everhart, an attorney with Hodgson Russ LLP, its
Guardianship Volunteer Award for developing a project that helps
clients secure guardianship rights to care for family members
with developmental disabilities once they reach the age of 18.
The Richmond (Va.) Bar Association honored Wood with
its John C. Kenny Pro Bono Award for his work providing pro bono
representation to clients of the Central Virginia Legal Aid
Society. Described by his colleagues as having a “heart of
gold,” Wood says pro bono service is an indispensable part of
his legal career. “It’s like going to church,” he says.
In a 2004 report by the
American Bar Association and the National Conference of Bar
Presidents, the year-old Memphis Access to Justice Committee was
recognized as one of the “Best Projects of 2004.” The
committee, chaired by Andy Branham, pictured, is the result of a
collaborative effort by Memphis Area Legal Services, the
Community Legal Center, and the Memphis and Tennessee Bar
Associations to increase pro bono work, expand access to the
courts, and educate the Bar and the public about justice issues.