Nov. 12, 2010

Valued Volunteers

Public Counsel, the nation's largest pro bono office, hosted it's 11th Annual Volunteer Gala on Nov. 10 at Hotel Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles. Hundreds of volunteers gathered to be praised for their collective efforts to assist nearly 30,000 clients with legal issues this year, ranging from veteran's advocacy to land-use litigation. Volunteer of the Year awards were given to 17 outstanding participants from each of Public Counsel's law projects. Photo 1: Neil O'Hanlon, Managing Partner at Hogan Lovells' Los Angeles office, and recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work in the Early Care & Education Project. Photo 2: From left: Catherine Lhamon, Directing attorney of Public Counsel's Impact Law Project; David Daniels, Pro Bono Director; Jackie Chidiac, CLP Senior Paralegal; Scott Rapkin, Volunteer of the Year honoree of Public Counsel's Consumer Law Project; Michael Rapkin, Scott's father, pro bono partner, and Volunteer of the Year honoree; and Hernán Vera, Public Counsel's President and CEO. Photo 3: From left: Giselle Soto; Cristin Zeisler, both attorneys at Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips; Elizabeth Alonso, Volunteer of the Year honoree of Public Counsel's Adoptions Project and attorney at Manatt; and Wendy Nichols-Julian, also an attorney at Manatt.