CONTACT: Teresa Weidemann-Smith
State Bar of Wisconsin
(800) 444-9404, ext. 6025
twsmith@wisbar.org
Madison Attorneys Recognized for Outstanding Public Service
MADISON, May 1, 2006 – Six Dane County
attorneys and one law student will be recognized by their peers at the
Public Service & Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyers Recognition Celebration
awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 3 at the State Bar of Wisconsin's
Annual convention beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Monona Terrace &
Convention Center in Madison.
The awards, sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin
Law Foundation and the Wisconsin Supreme Court, recognizes volunteers
who have helped make the legal system more accessible to the people of
Wisconsin by providing pro bono legal services, public service, and law
related education.
The awards and their perspective recipients include:
- The 2005 Dan Tuchscherer Outstanding Public Interest Law
Attorney Award: Attorney and social worker Dianne
Greenley with Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy (now Disability
Rights Wisconsin). The award recognizes a lawyer who has demonstrated a
selfless, lifetime commitment to working in the public interest, both
inside and outside the field of law.
- The 2005 Outstanding Public Interest Law Student Award:
University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School student Annie
Smith. The award recognizes her exemplary efforts in assisting
low-wage tenants, workers and public benefits recipients in the Madison
and area communities.
- The 2005 Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence: Attorneys
Marsha M. Mansfield, Clinical Assistant Professor at
the University of Wisconsin Law School, and Jennifer L.
Binkley with Community Justice Inc. The award recognizes a
lawyer or organization for work on an individual law-related educated or
public service project.
- The 2005 Hotline Attorney of the Year Award: Attorney
Rhea M. Myers of Wheeler, Van Sickle & Anderson,
S.C. in Madison. The award recognizes the efforts of hotline attorney
volunteers who answer simple legal questions over the phone, allowing
callers to better assess whether they wish to hire a lawyer or use the
resource information provided to them.
- The 2005 Law-related Education Attorney of the Year Award:
Attorney L. Michael Tobin, State Public Defenders
Office Administration Division. The mission of the
State Bar's Law-related Education (LRE) Committee is to promote and
support statewide efforts to educate the public. The Committee's
projects encourage understanding and respect for the legal system and
foster appreciation of the rights and responsibilities of all persons
under law. This award honors an attorney who has demonstrated excellence
in promoting and supporting this mission.
- The 2005 Pro Bono Award for a Legal Services Attorney:
Madison Attorney Mitchell M. Hagopian, Managing
Attorney for Developmental Disabilities Advocacy at the Wisconsin
Coalition for Advocacy (now called Disability Rights Wisconsin). This
award recognizes those who promote the establishment and maintenance of
organizations that provide legal services to low income populations;
increase the accessibility of legal services and improve legal services
delivery.
- The 2005 Wisconsin Lawyer Honorable Charles Dunn Author
Award: Attorney Sheila Sullivan of Legal Action of
Wisconsin Inc. The award, named after Wisconsin's first chief justice,
recognizes writing excellence for articles in the State Bar's monthly
magazine, Wisconsin Lawyer.
For more information, visit www.wisbar.org.
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