This is a news release archive from 1997. Substantive information, including information about ABA policy, as well as contact information and links to other Web pages, may not be current. For the most recent ABA news, visit the Division for Media Relations & Communication Services.
Release: Immediate
Contact: Jim Nayder
Email: abanews@abanet.org
URL: http://www.abanet.org/media/home.html
1997 ABA Business Public Service Awards Winners Announced
CHICAGO, March 27 -- Each year, thousands of Americans benefit from pro bono
(free) legal services provided by individual lawyers, law firms, and corporate legal departments.
For many, pro bono legal services come at a time of crisis, when the assistance of a lawyer is
vital -- but not always affordable.
Because of the importance of pro bono services, the American Bar Association's
Business Law Section created its National Public Service Award, which is given to recognize
significant pro bono services rendered to the poor in a business context, and the achievements
resulting from the public service work for the clients and the client groups represented. The
1997 awards, being given to a law firm and individual lawyer, will be presented at the Section's
Spring Meeting in Boston on April 4, 1997.
The Individual award is being presented to John H. Stout, of Fredrikson & Byron,
Minneapolis, Minn. The Law Firm award is being presented to Hogan & Hartson of
Washington, DC. John H. Stout is a founding member of the Metropolitan Economic Development
Association (MEDA), which was formed in the wake of riots in north Minneapolis in 1969.
Stout has devoted more than 25 years to the advancement of minorities through MEDA. He has
also worked extensively in developing capital loans to minority businesses.
The firm of Hogan & Hartson has developed an innovative pro bono Community
Services Department (CSD), established in 1970, that is currently led by one full-time partner,
four full-time associates, and one full-time legal assistant. Each year Hogan & Hartson commits
at least five percent of its billable hours to pro bono services in the community. In addition, the
firm is an advocate in such areas as civil rights, environmental protection, international human
rights, welfare benefits, mental health law, political asylum, civil liberties, family and child
issues, and more.
These awards are an outgrowth of the ABA section program "A Business Commitment
(ABC)," which is designed to match business lawyers and their areas of expertise with those
unable to afford a lawyer.
The 1997 award winners fulfilled the following criteria:
- Demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor
through a pro bono program;
- Contributed to developing innovative approaches to delivery of volunteer legal services;
- Participated in an activity that resulted in satisfying previously unmet needs or in
extending services to underserved segments of the population; and
- Provided sustained counsel to poor or underserved individuals or organizations.
For more information on the ABC awards, contact Landi Ewing, ABA Section of
Business Law, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill. 60611, 312/988-5588.
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