The Legal Aid Society Honors Multiple O’Melveny Lawyers
October 18, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY—October 18, 2018—The Legal Aid Society, the country’s oldest and largest provider of legal aid to the indigent, honored several O’Melveny lawyers for their pro bono contributions at its 2018 Pro Bono Publico Awards Ceremony Wednesday evening. Firm pro bono counsel Jerri Shick, associates Stephanie Drotar and Aaron Rogoff, and partners Pamela Miller and Ross Galin all were celebrated for their work on a variety of matters with life-changing outcomes for clients.
Shick received the Public Interest Law Leadership Award for her extraordinary contributions as a leader of O’Melveny’s outstanding pro bono program, and for her constant support of The Legal Aid Society and its clients. She was recognized for her role in enabling O’Melveny associates to work alongside Legal Aid staff to assist clients with disabilities, protect the rights of immigrants, advocate for marginalized youth, and defend inmates from excessive force.
“An active member of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel as well as the New York City Bar Association’s Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee, Jerri co-chaired the Committee’s ‘Best Practices’ efforts to provide forums in which pro bono professionals from the public and private sector can discuss common challenges and learn from one another,” The Legal Aid Society said. “Jerri’s dedication and passion for pro bono has inspired her colleagues at O’Melveny to provide hundreds of hours working on behalf of disadvantaged New Yorkers.”
Drotar and Miller were recognized for their representation of a 50-year-old man with intellectual disabilities and depression in appealing his denial of disability benefits. After representing him at an administrative hearing, the decision was reversed and the client was awarded benefits.
Rogoff and Galin were recognized for appealing the denial of disability benefits on behalf of a 52-year-old woman diagnosed with PTSD and major depression with psychosis. The client received a fully favorable decision after the team represented her at her administrative hearing.
The awards were presented by Richard J. Davis, Chair of The Legal Aid Society, and Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta, Appellate Division, First Department.
The Legal Aid Society in New York City provides a full range of civil legal services, as well as criminal defense work, and juvenile representation in Family Court. The Society's core service is to provide free legal assistance to New Yorkers who live at or below the poverty level and cannot afford to hire a lawyer when confronted with a legal problem.
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Contact:
Brandon Scott Jacobsen
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 323 774 9779
bjacobsen@omm.com