Russell M. Thompson, Esq. to Receive the Attorney of the Year Award
at 15th Annual For the Public Good
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (August 8, 2016) – Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) have announced that Russell Miller Thompson, Esq. has been selected to receive the Attorney of the Year Award at the 15th Annual For the Public Good. The event will be held Thursday, October 27, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale.
Russell M. Thompson has been a longtime advocate for pro bono service in Broward County, regularly volunteering with LAS and CCLA. During the past twelve years, Mr. Thompson has represented over twenty-five pro bono clients, including veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and child survivors of abuse and/or neglect. In addition, he has provided advice and counsel for thirty-three low-income clients on their housing and debt collection issues through the Broward Lawyers Care Advice and Counsel Hotline during the past two years. Mr. Thompson has volunteered over 200 hours of pro bono legal service, primarily helping clients resolve family law and housing issues.
“Justice should not be determined by the amount of money a person has. Justice, true equal justice, should be the same without regard to economic status,” explains Russell Thompson. “I encourage all Broward County lawyers to help provide a meaningful access to justice for those families unable to pay for legal counsel. This is our responsibility as professionals.”
Past recipients of the award include: Charles L. Simon, Esq. – 2002; Joanne Fanizza, Esq. – 2003; Theodore Kaufman, Esq. – 2004; Richard Hussey, Esq. – 2005; Marian A. Lindquist, Esq. – 2006; Elias L. D’Souza, Esq. – 2007; Jorge E. Hurtado, Esq. – 2008; Robert Murphy, Esq.– 2010; Lawrence G. Marin, Esq. – 2011; Professor Michael Richmond – 2012; David S. Bazerman, Esq. – 2013; Jay Kim, Esq. – 2014; and Michele K. Cummings, Esq. – 2015.
The annual fundraiser will honor members of the community who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to secure justice and change lives for the underprivileged and underserved in Broward County. An estimated 450 Broward County lawyers, judges and community leaders are expected to be in attendance, for what is widely-noted throughout Broward as the premier pro-bono recognition event of the year.
Proceeds from the event benefit children and families served by LAS and CCLA and enable both organizations to serve greater numbers of those in need. A few of the many legal services provided include helping seniors and veterans gain much needed benefits, abused children in foster care, the homeless, children in need of special education, victims of domestic violence and families losing their homes to foreclosure. Annual sponsors of LAS and CCLA include Valley National Bank; US Legal Support; Kim Vaughan Lerner, LLP; Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, PL; and CopyScan Technologies.
To place congratulatory remarks or advertisements recognizing Russell M. Thompson, Esq. or for more insight into sponsorship opportunities and how you can get involved, please contact dlange@legalaid.org or call 954-736-2429.
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Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida is a not-for-profit law firm established in 2003 and funded, in part, by the Legal Services Corporation. Our mission is to improve the lives of low income persons in our community through advocacy, education, representation and empowerment.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County is not-for-profit law firm established in 1974. Our mission is to provide high quality free civil legal advice, representation and education to the poor of Broward County so as to improve the lifestyle and living conditions of the low-income community and to encourage self-sufficiency.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) are 501(c)(3) corporations registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer services (LAS #SC-02337 and CCLA #CH19226). All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the state OR VISITING WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State.