Oct. 13, 2012

BASF & Northern District Court host pro bono reception

The Bar Association of San Francisco's Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) and the Northern District Court of California celebrated the Federal Pro Bono Project at a reception Oct. 2. Chief Judge Claudia Wilken, Judge Edward Chen and Dan Burkhardt of VLSP/BASF thanked the attorneys for volunteering and spoke about the importance of assisting those who cannot afford representation. Several awards were presented to project volunteers. Magistrate Judge Spero presented an Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award to Fenwick & West LLP for representing a minor child whose father died while in custody at San Quentin. Judge Seeborg presented an Outstanding Public Service Award to Caroline Mitchell of Jones Day for her work assisting with prisoner civil rights cases, both placement of those matters and serving as a mentor. And Chief Judge Wilken presented the Outstanding Law Firm in Pro Bono Service Award to Morrison & Foerster LLP, which took on three full-scope cases and one limited-scope case through the project this year.