The New York State Bar Association is calling for nominations:
New York State Bar Association
Mandated Representation
For over 100 years, the New York State Bar Association has been a leader in advocating for the provision of high quality legal services to the poor. Over the last several years, the Association has specifically studied the state's system of providing indigent defense and other mandated legal services and has sought to ensure the quality of mandated representation for those unable to afford counsel, whether in criminal or Family Court proceedings.
In 2007, the Association's Special Committee to Ensure Quality of Mandated Representation (now a Standing Committee) established a bi-annual Award for Outstanding Achievements in Promoting Standards of Excellence in Mandated Representation to be given to up to three recipients. The Committee gave its first award to Bronx Defenders, a defense organization in New York City that supplements its criminal defense representation with social services and community activities.
This year up to three awards will be presented during a luncheon on June 11, 2009, at the State Bar Center, in conjunction with a free MCLE seminar addressing issues related to mandated representation in Family Court. We welcome nominations for outstanding achievements in connection with Family Court or criminal defense proceedings.
Awards will honor the nominee or nominees who best exemplify one or more of the following categories:
- An attorney, group of attorneys or organization that has demonstrated consistent adherence to the highest professional standards in providing mandated representation;
- An attorney, group of attorneys or organization that has engaged in innovative efforts to improve the overall quality of mandated representation; and/or
- A private individual, public officer or organization that has promoted steps by the legislature, executive branch or judiciary to ensure the provision of high quality mandated representation