2011 Awards Reception

The Office of Legal Services cordially invites you to attend the 2011 Awards Reception on Friday, September 16, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach.  The following awards will be given out at the reception: the Loren Miller Legal Services Award, the President's Pro Bono Service Awards, the Jack Berman Award of Achievement, and a Special Benjamin Aranda III Access to Justice Award.   

Click here to view 2011 recipients.    

Please RSVP ONLINE by Tuesday, September 6.

Special Benjamin Aranda III Access to Justice Award Given to William Vickrey

William Vickrey, Administrative Director, Administrative Office of the Courts, will be the recipient of a special Benjamin Aranda III Access to Justice Award at the 2011 Awards Reception in Long Beach. He will receive this special award on the recommendation of the California Commission on Access to Justice, the State Bar, the Judicial Council, and the California Judges Association in recognition of his deep commitment to improving access to our courts throughout his entire career.  In addition to the many contributions he made to California's judicial branch, he is deserving of this special recognition because of the many ways in which he provided significant leadership and support for statewide efforts to improve access to justice in California:

• Establishment of the Equal Access Fund, beginning in 1999, that has made such a critical difference in the level of legal aid support available in California;
• Development of the award-winning bilingual self-help website that has thousands of pages of information to aid those who cannot afford legal representation;
• Expansion of self-help centers and family law facilitators into every county in the state, helping millions of Californians every year; and
• Creation of rules and forms to ensure the availability of limited scope legal assistance, ensuring that those who cannot afford an attorney for all aspects of their case can receive legal help on critical components of the litigation.

Run for Justice 

What: 5K Fun Run/ 2 K Power Walk 

When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, 7: 45am - 9am

Where: Long Beach

We are very excited to share the news with you about our inaugural 5 K fun run/2 K power walk called the Run for Justice to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., in Long Beach, California during the 84th annual meeting of the State Bar of California.

The goal of the run is to raise both awareness and money for the 95 nonprofit legal aid organizations that assist our most vulnerable Californians in obtaining equal justice. The proceeds from the Run for Justice will directly support civil legal aid to help serve low income individuals and families facing critical life issues such as domestic violence, homelessness, and consumer fraud.

Registration for the Run for Justice is $40.00 per person. To go the extra mile for justice, we encourage an additional $35.00 donation, which will go directly to the Justice Gap Fund.  We are hoping to get as many runners as possible for a fun filled morning.

REGISTER TO RUN TODAY! 

Please note: You may sign up for the Run for Justice only. You do not have to be attending the Annual Meeting to be a run participant. When using a credit card, simply complete the registration form and fax it to 415 538-2368. 

CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE

October is Campaign for Justice Month. The Campaign for Justice is led by a network of attorneys and other leaders who are dedicated to increasing access to justice throughout the state. The Campaign is co-sponsored by the State Bar and the Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC), in coordination with the Access to Justice Commission, the Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, the Legal Services Trust Fund Program and individual legal services programs.  

The Campaign's goal is to increase both pro bono and financial contributions to legal services, and the Campaign for Justice Month will incorporate Pro Bono Week which is the week of October 24, 2011. 

The Campaign will launch a coordinated statewide effort this October and the State Bar Board of Governors and other entities are being asked to adopt resolutions recognizing October 2011 as Campaign for Justice Month.

For more information, contact Elena Enzweiler at elena.enzweiler@calbar.ca.gov or 415-538-2532. 

State Bar Certified Lawyer Referral Services

Recertification Applications for services in Group 3 must be received no later than September 2, unless previous arrangements have been made.

Recertification Applications for services in Group 4 will be emailed no later than September 30 and will be due November 18, 2011.

If you have questions or need an extension, contact Rodney Low at 415-538-2219 or email:  rodney.low@calbar.ca.gov.