Legal Services to honor 12 Equal Justice Champions

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri will honor a dozen “legal champions” at the end of August.

The 2013 edition of the For the Common Good Annual Awards Reception comes Aug. 28. The event, at the Randall Gallery in St. Louis, will begin with a reception at 5:30 followed by the presentation of the awards.

“We look forward to recognizing those who have contributed immeasurably to helping the low-income community,” Dan Glazier, LSEM executive director and general counsel, said in a press release. “Everyone being honored had demonstrated passion and commitment to helping the underserved of our community.”

LSEM, incorporated as a nonprofit in St. Louis in 1956, provides legal help to poor people in 21 counties in eastern Missouri.

The honorees are:

Charles Weiss, the Robert Walston Chubb Award. Weiss is partner at Bryan Cave. This award is given to individuals who have made an outstanding commitment to providing equal access to justice.

Ian McCaslin, the Ashley Award. McCaslin is the former Medicaid director for the State of Missouri. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in advocacy for children.

Young Friends of LSEM, the Edna M. Taylor Client Service Award. Formed in 2010, Young Friends is a group of more than 200 young legal professionals under the age of 40. This award recognizes great commitment to serving indigent and underserved individuals.

Judge Lisa Page, the Richard B. Teitelman Distinguished Service Award. Page is a Jefferson County Circuit Judge. This award recognizes those who have provided exceptional service to the community through their involvement with the Volunteer Lawyers Program.

The Simon Law Firm, the Melton M. Lewis Equal Justice Award. This award recognizes those who have shown outstanding commitment to providing equal access to justice.

Gary Dollar, Eddie Mae Binion Community Service Award. Dollar is president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. This award recognizes those in the community who have dedicated their lives to helping those served by LSEM.

Maria Perron, the F. Wm. McCalpin Pro Bono Award. Perron is an attorney at The Perron Law Firm. This award recognizes attorneys who have exhibited an extraordinary dedication to pro bono work.

Nancy Richards, the F. Wm. McCalpin Pro Bono Award. Richards is an attorney at Nancy Richards & Associates. This award recognizes attorneys who have exhibited an extraordinary dedication to pro bono work.

Thompson Coburn, the Gerald R. Ortbals Outstanding Law Firm Award.  This award recognizes a law firm that has truly distinguished itself with an exemplary commitment to pro bono service.

Amanda Colvin, the John R. Essner Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Colvin is an associate at Bryan Cave. This award is given each year to a new attorney who has made a meaningful contribution to the lives of LSEM clients through their pro bono work.

Allison Eardley, the John R. Essner Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Eardley is an associate with Husch Blackwell. This award is given each year to a new attorney who has made a meaningful contribution to the lives of LSEM clients through their pro bono work.

St. Louis American, Media Award. The St. Louis American is being honored for its support of LSEM’s mission and for its work in furthering equal access to justice through its newspaper.