On Thursday, October 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service will Celebrate Pro Bono by honoring volunteers, student interns, law firms and supporters at our annual recognition reception at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law’s Westminster Hall in Baltimore.

This annual event, held in partnership with the UMD Carey School of Law’s Leadership in Public Service and Maryland Public Interest Law Project,  honors those who have made noteworthy contributions to the delivery of pro bono legal services over the past year.  The reception also kicks off Maryland’s participation in the American Bar Association’s national Celebrate Pro Bono Week (October 21-27).

Guests will enjoy a catered buffet while networking with peers and listening to remarks from our distinguished key-note speaker, James J. Sandman, President of the Legal Services Corporation, the largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans nationwide.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

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MVLS will present attorney Yollette S. Atkinson, a partner with the firm of Atkinson & Mentzer in Baltimore, with its Volunteer of the Year Award to recognize her outstanding commitment to pro bono. Ms. Atkinson accepted 16 cases in FY12 and also mentored three other volunteer lawyers.

The attorneys of Grossbart, Portney & Rosenberg in Baltimore will be honored with our 2012 Law Firm of the Year Award for their extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono legal services to clients facing bankruptcy and/or foreclosure.  The firm’s attorneys also regularly volunteer with MVLS’ Debtors Assistance Program at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. 

MVLS will present its Partnership Award to Frank E. Turney, a solo practitioner in Catonsville. Mr. Turney will be receiving this award in recognition of his success in a recent three-year litigation battle on behalf of an MVLS client with disabilities.  Mr. Turney achieved a remarkable outcome when he persuaded the court to discharge over $300,000 in student loan debt as part of her Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

MVLS will also recognize Susan Mays, a solo practitioner in Anne Arundel County and Jason C. Ridgell, Of Counsel with The Law Firm of Fishbein & Fishbein, P.A. in Ellicott City, as 2012 recipients of MVLS’ Ten-Year Volunteer Award.  This award acknowledges those exceptional volunteers who have accepted as least one case every year for ten consecutive years.

Finally, MVLS is proud to present M. Natalie McSherry, a partner with Kramon & Graham in Baltimore and MVLS board member from 2002-2012, with the Winnie Borden Pro Bono Leadership Award.  Established in 2008, this special award honors Ms. McSherry for her deep understanding of the need for legal services for low income Marylanders, her outstanding leadership of pro bono services and her extraordinary success inspiring others to support pro bono legal services.  Ms. McSherry is the third recipient of this exclusive award; the first being Winnie Borden, MVLS Executive Director from 1991 to 2008 and the award’s namesake and the second being the Senator Ben Cardin.