Inner City Law Center honors Crowell & Moring and JAMS

More than 400 people attended Inner City Law Center's 24th Annual Awards Luncheon on Wednesday. Crowell & Moring LLP, which donated more than 650 hours of legal services to ICLC between 2021 and 2023, received the Humanitarian Award. "The many hours of pro bono legal work that the lawyers from Crowell & Morning have donated fighting for Inner City Law Center clients show an incredible commitment to the fight to prevent and address homelessness in Los Angeles," said ICLC Board President Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison, a partner at Willenken LLP.

JAMS and Vice President Richard Chernick, a longtime supporter of ICLC, received the Katharine Krause Award. "JAMS and Richard have shown a deep commitment to legal aid and community service in Los Angeles," said Adam Murray, chief executive officer of ICLC. "Richard worked shoulder to shoulder with Katharine at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. This has a special meaning for him."

Richard Chernick of JAMS and Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto

In a statement, JAMS noted that several of its neutrals have been deeply involved with the work of ICLC for decades, including Joan Kessler, who set up a pro bono program between the two organizations and now serves as a liaison between ICLC and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Elliot K. Gordon, who sits on the ICLC board and retired state Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, who serves on the ICLC advisory board.

"The work of Richard Chernick, Dr. Joan Kessler and many of our JAMS neutrals reinforces JAMS' commitment to supporting the Los Angeles community. Each of our neutrals and team members involved with the ICLC has worked to provide pro bono services to causes and programs that they are deeply passionate about, and we are proud to have received this award," said Chris Poole, JAMS CEO.

Inner City Law Center provides legal services for myriad issues from its offices on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. The organization has 70 in-house attorneys and another 60 staff members. Several clients spoke via video at the event about how ICLC helped them escape eviction or get housing and other public benefits.