Proskauer Wins Public Counsel's Law Firm Pro Bono Award
June 24, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA) - On June 16, Proskauer received the Law Firm Pro Bono Award at the William O. Douglas Award Dinner in Los Angeles, sponsored by Public Counsel, the United States’ largest pro bono public interest law firm. The award was accepted by firm Chairman Allen Fagin.
Proskauer was honored for our long-term commitment to pro bono work both in the U.S. and around the world. Of particular note was Proskauer’s work with Public Counsel on creating the Federal Pro Se Clinic at the United States Courthouse in Los Angeles. Proskauer's legal fees stemming from Bert Deixler’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court civil rights win, Johnson v. California, which forced the integration of the California prison system, were donated to support the funding of the Pro Se Clinic. Opened in March 2009, the clinic provides valuable information to people who are not able to afford attorney representation in a wide range of civil matters from business disputes to discrimination cases. Since the clinic opened it has had more than 2,200 visits, and has assisted more than 900 pro se litigants.
Proskauer and the evening’s other award winners were featured in a video narrated by former President Bill Clinton.
Proskauer Chairman Allen Fagin and Los Angeles Partner Bert Deixler pose with Public Counsel's Law Firm Pro Bono Award.
Allen Fagin and Bert Deixler with U.S. District Court Judges Audrey Collins and A. Howard Matz. The judges were instrumental in working with Proskauer to set up the Pro Se Clinic.