Mintz Levin to Receive Prestigious ABA Pro Bono Award
5/26/2010
Firm Recognized for Work on Landmark Stalking and Harassment Law
Boston, MA – Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. will receive the American Bar Association's (ABA) prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award in recognition of the firm's "outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services" in connection with work leading to the passage of a landmark sexual assault, stalking and harassment law in Massachusetts.
Mintz Levin is among the five individuals and institutions to be honored with this year's award, which will be presented by the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service at the ABA's annual meeting in August.
"Twenty years ago the firm focused its pro bono efforts on protecting victims of domestic violence. Today, we are equally, if not more, committed to furthering those efforts and engaging attorneys across all of our offices," said Robert I. Bodian, Managing Member of Mintz Levin. "It is particularly gratifying to be receiving this award because it recognizes Mintz Levin's contribution to the passage of a law that will have positive effect on the lives of so many people."
In February, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill allowing victims of sexual assault, stalking and harassment to obtain protective orders against their stalkers. The bill, which Mintz Levin attorneys took the lead in drafting on a pro bono basis, fills an important gap in the state's restraining order law, which previously only afforded victims of abuse the right to petition for a protection order if the perpetrator of abuse was a family member, roommate, current or former spouse, or a person with whom the victim had a substantial dating relationship.
The bill was initiated as the result of Mintz Levin's pro bono representation of a young woman who was repeatedly stalked and harassed by a group of her high school classmates. Then Mintz Levin first year associate Helen Guyton, determined that the woman was entitled to little, if any, protection under the existing laws. In order to fill that gap, Mintz Levin's team of pro bono attorneys became involved in the coordination and advocacy in changing the law, working closely with advocacy groups and the bill’s sponsors to gather necessary support and input. Susan M. Finegan, Chair of Mintz Levin's Pro Bono Committee, headed up the effort, assisted by Ms. Guyton, Elissa Flynn-Poppey, Chair of the Firm's Government Law Practice, and Dean Atkins. Mintz Levin has also been involved in the implementation and training efforts following the passage of the legislation.
"The passage of this law means that now in Massachusetts, a similar client who is being stalked and sexually assaulted by a neighbor can get the safety protections he or she needs, which is extremely meaningful to those involved in this pro bono effort," said Ms. Finegan.
The Pro Bono Publico Awards program seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to our nation's poor and disadvantaged. Recipients must be nominated by other individuals or organizations. Mintz Levin will be presented with its award, along with the four other recipients, at the Pro Bono Publico Awards Luncheon on Monday, August 9, 2010 at the ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA. For more information on the award visit www.abanet.org
With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.
