Legal News

Manatt receives Award of Merit for work on AB 590

By Richard Binder

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that the Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) has named the firm the recipient of the 2010 Award of Merit.

The Award of Merit was created specifically to recognize Manatt's exceptional work in pursuing passage of the landmark AB 590 bill in November 2009, which made California the first state in the nation to establish a right to counsel for low-income citizens in critical need. The bill was proposed to provide legal aid to individuals who could not otherwise afford legal services in cases where basic human needs, such as shelter, sustenance, health and child custody are at stake.

The Manatt team included Thomas R. McMorrow, administrative partner for the firm's Sacramento office, counsel Fred L. Main, and public affairs manager Michael R. O. Martinez, both also based in Sacramento.

Julia Wilson, executive director of LAAC, said the organization "created the Award of Merit to single out Manatt's pro bono advocacy excellence within the legal community. We are proud to recognize the firm's diligence and efforts to ensure the passage of AB 590." Wilson added, "the collective impact of AB 590 is truly breathtaking and not one bit of it would have been possible without Manatt's amazing leadership, partnership, thoughtfulness and downright 'get it done' attitude."

LAAC is the statewide membership of legal services non-profits, and serves and strengthens its members through advocacy, training and support in the organization?s efforts to provide critical legal assistance to low-income Californians and to ensure equal access to justice. LAAC serves as the "unified voice of legal services" for the almost 100 non-profits in California that provide free legal assistance to low-income and underserved residents.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on September 14, 2010 (boomark / email).