Legal Aid of East Tennessee hosted its Annual Pro Bono Night June 25 at Bessie Smith Hall. The event celebrated local attorneys who donated time and legal services during the past year to help those who could not afford a lawyer.
“We are here to celebrate your time, energy, and unique talents, which you have used to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” Charlie McDaniel, director of the southern region of LAET’s Pro Bono Project, said as he opened the ceremony.
Appellate Court Judge John McClarty served as master of ceremonies. “Thank you for supporting Legal Aid,” he said during his opening remarks. “They are doing everything they can to help all of our citizens obtain equal access to justice. When one is denied justice, all are denied justice.”
The ceremony began with the presentation of a resolution honoring LAET’s executive director, David Yoder, who will retire at the end of this year. The president of the Chattanooga Bar Association, Paul Hatcher, presented the declaration. “One of the functions of Chattanooga Bar Association is to give our members a place to come together and speak with one voice,” he said. “When we got wind that David would be retiring this year, the Board of Directors immediately passed this resolution.”
Yoder, who did not know the Bar would be honoring him, was stunned but pleased. “This is thefirst acknowledgement I’ve received, and I will treasure it forever,” he said. “All of you are important to the low income people in our community, and each and every one of you is important to me.”
Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Philyaw received the Chief Justice William M. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award. Judge Philyaw has served on the Tennessee Bar Association’s Access to Justice committee, and implemented special pro bono clinics at Juvenile Court to help people file for child support modification. “When I started in the legal profession, pro bono work was part of our DNA. We helped people every chance we got,” Judge Philyaw said. “I’m humbled and honored to receive this award.”
Bob Sauser was honored as the Bruce C. Bailey Volunteer Lawyer of the Year for his outstanding service to legal aid clients. “I’ve called on Bob many, many times, and he’s always stepped up to the plate and delivered tremendous results for our clients, who were in terrible situations,” McDaniel said. “Bob is a true friend to Legal Aid, and a true friend to our clients.”
Upon accepting the award, Sauser urged the attorneys in the room to take on more pro bono work than in the past. “If you took one pro bono case last year, I encourage you to take two this year. If you took two cases, take three,” he said. “You’ll get back in blessings more than you’ll give.”
The City of Chattanooga received the 2015 Alexander Hamilton Award in recognition of their work in founding a Family Justice Center, which opened in Chattanooga this week. While announcing the recipient, Yoder said, “There are too many places where a victim of domestic violence can fall through the cracks and continue in an abusive relationship. But the Family Justice Center will provide one place where a victim can get all of the support she needs to break the cycle for herself and her children.”
Mayor Andy Berke, Councilwoman Carol Berz, and Valerie Radu, executive director of the Family Justice Center, accepted the award.
“The Family Justice Center has been a long time coming,” Berz said. “One in three people in Hamilton County has experienced domestic violence or knows someone who has. This is going to be a model for the nation.”
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz was honored as the Pro Bono Firm of the Year for their commitment to providing pro bono services to low-income clients. Judge McClarty said the firm has rallied around Legal Aid like never before. “They have taken on difficult and important cases, and approached their pro bono work with refreshing creativity and vision,” he said.
Rusty Gray, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson in Chattanooga, accepted the award on behalf of the firm. “Pro bono work is a part of our firm’s culture, dating back to the 1800s with Howard Baker’s family,” he said. “This is a huge honor for us. We’re grateful for it, and we thank you for it.”
Gray also thanked attorney Sheri Fox, who leads Baker Donelson’s pro bono efforts in Chattanooga. “She’s done a great job of bringing us closer to Legal Aid and getting us more involved,” he said.
The evening also featured a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of LAET. For more information about LAET, visit www.laet.org, or call (423) 756-4013.
To see more photos, pick up a copy of the Hamilton County Herald.
By David Laprad
Legal Aid of East Tennessee hosted its Annual Pro Bono Night June 25 at Bessie Smith Hall. The event celebrated local attorneys who donated time and legal services during the past year to help those who could not afford a lawyer.
“We are here to celebrate your time, energy, and unique talents, which you have used to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” Charlie McDaniel, director of the southern region of LAET’s Pro Bono Project, said as he opened the ceremony.
Appellate Court Judge John McClarty served as master of ceremonies. “Thank you for supporting Legal Aid,” he said during his opening remarks. “They are doing everything they can to help all of our citizens obtain equal access to justice. When one is denied justice, all are denied justice.”
The ceremony began with the presentation of a resolution honoring LAET’s executive director, David Yoder, who will retire at the end of this year. The president of the Chattanooga Bar Association, Paul Hatcher, presented the declaration. “One of the functions of Chattanooga Bar Association is to give our members a place to come together and speak with one voice,” he said. “When we got wind that David would be retiring this year, the Board of Directors immediately passed this resolution.”
Yoder, who did not know the
Bar would be honoring him, was stunned but pleased. “This is the
first acknowledgement I’ve received,
and I will treasure it forever,” he said. “All of you are important to the low income people in our community, and each and every one of you is important to me.”
Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Philyaw received the Chief Justice William M. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award. Judge Philyaw has served on the Tennessee Bar Association’s Access to Justice committee, and implemented special pro bono clinics at Juvenile Court to help people file for child support modification. “When I started in the legal profession, pro bono work was part of our DNA. We helped people every chance we got,” Judge Philyaw said. “I’m humbled and honored to receive this award.”
Bob Sauser was honored as the Bruce C. Bailey Volunteer Lawyer of the Year for his outstanding service to legal aid clients. “I’ve called on Bob many, many times, and he’s always stepped up to the plate and delivered tremendous results for our clients, who were in terrible situations,” McDaniel said. “Bob is a true friend to Legal Aid, and a true friend to our clients.”
Upon accepting the award, Sauser urged the attorneys in the room to take on more pro bono work than in the past. “If you took one pro bono case last year, I encourage you to take two this year. If you took two cases, take three,” he said. “You’ll get back in blessings more than you’ll give.”
The City of Chattanooga received the 2015 Alexander Hamilton Award in recognition of their work in founding a Family Justice Center, which opened in Chattanooga this week. While announcing the recipient, Yoder said, “There are too many places where a victim of domestic violence can fall through the cracks and continue in an abusive relationship. But the Family Justice Center will provide one place where a victim can get all of the support she needs to break the cycle for herself and her children.”
Mayor Andy Berke, Councilwoman Carol Berz, and Valerie Radu, executive director of the Family Justice Center, accepted the award.
“The Family Justice Center has been a long time coming,” Berz said. “One in three people in Hamilton County has experienced domestic violence or knows someone who has. This is going to be a model for the nation.”
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz was honored as the Pro Bono Firm of the Year for their commitment to providing pro bono services to low-income clients. Judge McClarty said the firm has rallied around Legal Aid like never before. “They have taken on difficult and important cases, and approached their pro bono work with refreshing creativity and vision,” he said.
Rusty Gray, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson in Chattanooga, accepted the award on behalf of the firm. “Pro bono work is a part of our firm’s culture, dating back to the 1800s with Howard Baker’s family,” he said. “This is a huge honor for us. We’re grateful for it, and we thank you for it.”
Gray also thanked attorney Sheri Fox, who leads Baker Donelson’s pro bono efforts in Chattanooga. “She’s done a great job of bringing us closer to Legal Aid and getting us more involved,” he said.
The evening also featured a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of LAET. For more information about LAET, visit www.laet.org, or call (423) 756-4013. v