Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo has been awarded the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award in recognition of its “outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services” in connection with work leading to passage of a landmark sexual assault, stalking and harassment law in Massachusetts.
Mintz Levin is among five individuals and institutions to be honored with this year’s award, which will be presented by the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service at the ABA’s annual meeting in August.
“Twenty years ago the firm focused its pro bono efforts on protecting victims of domestic violence. Today, we are equally, if not more, committed to furthering those efforts and engaging attorneys across all of our offices,” said Robert I. Bodian, managing member of Mintz Levin. “It is particularly gratifying to be receiving this award because it recognizes Mintz Levin’s contribution to the passage of a law that will have positive effect on the lives of so many people.”
The Massachusetts law, which was signed by Governor Deval Patrick in February, allows victims of sexual assault, stalking and harassment to obtain protective orders against their stalkers. Mintz Levin attorneys took the lead in drafting the bill on a pro bono basis.
The ABA’s Pro Bono Publico Awards program seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to the nation’s poor and disadvantaged.
Recipients must be nominated by other individuals or organizations.