News
Equal Justice Works Receives 2020 Louis M. Brown Select Award for Legal Access
/ Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 25, 2020—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, announced today that its Disaster Recovery Legal Corps (DRLC) is the winner of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) 2020 Louis M. Brown Select Award for Legal Access (the “Brown Select Award”).
The Louis M. Brown Award recognizes organizations that are committed to increasing legal services to low- and moderate-income communities and innovating the development, funding, or implementation of the delivery of legal services. The Brown Select Award is presented by the ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services to the Brown Award nominee that receives the most online votes from the public. to the Louis M. Brown Award nominee with the most online votes from the general public.
“We are proud of what our Fellows in our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps have accomplished over the past two years in responding to the unmet and critical disaster-related legal needs of Texas and Florida communities,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “We are honored to receive this award from the American Bar Association as it recognizes that this program is good both for communities in need and the public interest lawyers who serve them. It is timely because we intend to replicate our disaster recovery work in other regions.”
Launched in the summer of 2018, the Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, is a fellowship program made up of 20 lawyers who deliver legal assistance to communities affected by 2019 Tropical Storm Imelda and the three big hurricanes of 2017—Harvey, Irma and Maria. Hosted at legal services organizations in Texas and Florida, Fellows in the program are a critical part of the recovery process in the communities where they serve. From applying for FEMA benefits, to protecting against unlawful evictions, and challenging insurance claim disputes—Fellows ensure that residents have access to the legal services they need to stabilize and rebuild their lives.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase the outstanding work of our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps,” said Linda Anderson Stanley, senior program manager at Equal Justice Works and the director of the ABA-Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services program. “We are committed to mobilizing more public service leaders who are passionate about helping communities prepare for and recover from disasters.”
For more information about the work of our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps Fellows, click here.
The Disaster Recovery Legal Corps program is funded with support from the American Red Cross, the Bigglesworth Family Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the Florida Bar Foundation, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Sharon and Ivan Fong Family Foundation, and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.
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About Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice.
Contact
Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.466.3686
We are honored to receive this award from the American Bar Association as it recognizes that this program is good both for communities in need and the public interest lawyers who serve them. It is timely because we intend to replicate our disaster recovery work in other regions.
David Stern /
Equal Justice Works Executive Director