The Award is named in memory of
career legal activist Denison (Denny) Ray, who led legal services programs in
New York and other states. A total of four (4) awards will be presented. Two
awards will be given to staff attorneys employed by nonprofit entities that
provide free civil legal services to low-income clients. One award will be
presented to a director of a civil legal services program or a director of a
pro bono volunteer program. An award
also will be presented to a nonprofit organization that provides or facilitates
the provision of civil legal services to low-income clients. If the individual recipient is not a member
of the New York State Bar Association s/he will be given a complimentary
one-year membership.
Pics from the 2018 Partnership Conference are here.
CRITERIA
The Civil Legal Services Staff
Attorney Awards recognize individual attorneys’ extraordinary
commitment to:
- The provision of creative, skilled, and zealous
representation of low-income clients;
- Collaboration with pro bono volunteer attorneys
from the private bar to expand access to justice opportunities for low-income
clients; and/or
- Efforts to inspire, mentor, and support
colleagues in the delivery of exceptional legal representation to low-income
clients.
The Director Award recognizes
outstanding leadership at a civil legal services or pro bono program by an
executive director or legal director who inspires the kind of extraordinary
commitment by staff and service to the community set forth in the above
criteria.
The Nonprofit Organization Award
recognizes extraordinary commitment to
- Strengthening access to justice initiatives;
- Delivering or facilitating the provision of
civil legal services to low-income and/or disadvantaged clients;
- Increasing the provision of pro bono services;
and/or
- Marshaling resources to maximize services to the
community.
PHIL DAILEY AWARD
Much of the advocacy work in civil legal services and pro bono programs is done by advocates who are not attorneys. The Phil Dailey Award was created on 2016 in memory of Phil Dailey, a Paralegal at Legal Assistance of Western NY in Geneva, NY, to acknowledge the vital services of non-attorney staff who demonstrate an excellence and dedication to providing equal access to justice.
Selection criteria:
• A non-attorney staff member of a civil legal services or pro bono provider who is recognized for creative, skilled, and zealous representation of low-income clients; and/or
• Collaboration with pro bono volunteer attorneys from the private bar to expand access to justice opportunities for low-income clients; and/or
• Efforts to inspire, mentor, and support colleagues in the delivery of exceptional legal representation to low-income clients.
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Award recipients will be selected
by a committee consisting of the chairs of the President’s Committee on Access
to Justice, the Committee on Legal Aid,
and the Director of the Department of Pro Bono Services.
Past Denison Ray Civil Awards Honorees
