LSNYC Staff and Board Honors

Several members of the Legal Services NYC family have been honored in recent months. 

The New York City Bar this year chose two members of the LS-NYC family as recipients of their Twenty-first Annual Legal Services Awards. The awards recognize the efforts of lawyers and non-lawyers who have, for an extended period during their career, devoted themselves to the provision of free civil legal services on a full-time basis to indigent persons. The ceremony took place on May 19th at the City Bar Association, and awards were presented by Hon. Rolando T. Acosta, Justice, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Current Legal Services NYC-Brooklyn Branch Interim Project Director Jennifer Levy (third from left in NYLJ photo above) was selected as a Legal Services Award recipient for her extraordinary efforts at South Brooklyn Legal Services, including her year as Interim Project Director at that program.

At the same event, Legal Services NYC-Bronx Project Director Steven B. Telzak was honored posthumously in recognition of his more than 30 years of service to low-income people in the Bronx.

Steve will also be honored with a 2010 New York State Bar Association Denison Ray Award, which recognizes the extraordinary commitment of public service attorneys who provide zealous and skilled representation to low income and disadvantaged clients. Steve was chosen as the recipient of the award for a director of a civil legal services, criminal defender, or pro bono program. The award will be presented at the dinner plenary session of the Partnership Conference in Albany on June 15th. With the exception of Steve’s family, the dinner and ceremony will be limited to individuals who are registered for the conference.  (NYSBA Press Release)

LSNYC Staff Attorney Susan M. Cohen was a recipient of the New York State Woman of Distinction Award, and was recognized at a ceremony at the New York State Legislature on May 25th. Ms. Cohen was honored not only for her more than 25 years of service representing low-income tenants, first at MFY Legal Services and now as a Senior Staff Attorney/Community Justice Project Coordinator for Manhattan Legal Services, but also for her service as Chair of the New York State Breast Cancer Network, which she co-founded in 1998.

Ms. Cohen also received a Cardozo Alumni 2010 Inspire! Award at the January 28th INSPIRE! Networking Event & Recognition Gala presented by the Cardozo Public Interest Law Students Association, Center for Public Service Law and Public Service Scholars.

Legal Services NYC Board Member Atiba D. Adams will be honored as “Corporate Counsel of the Year” at the Metropolitan Black Bar Association’s Twenty-Sixth Anniversary Dinner taking place on June 28th at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  Mr. Adams is currently Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Pfizer, Inc. “Trailblazer of the Year” awardee Hon. Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, will be the guest speaker at the event. 

LSNYC Director of Communications and Government Relations Edwina Frances Martin was  recently re-elected as Vice-President of the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association. The installation ceremony will take place on June 7th and will be performed by Hon. Robert J. Gigante, Surrogate, Richmond County.