Locke Lord Honored with Award

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) March 31, 2014 – Locke Lord has been named by the Washington, D.C.- based Children’s Law Center as a 2014 Champion for Children in recognition of its support of D.C.’s most vulnerable children.

Children’s Law Center is the largest legal services organization in the District of Columbia and the only one to focus on children. The organization provides free legal services to at-risk children who require assistance to meet their most basic needs: a quality education, good health and a permanent, loving home.

Through its annual fundraising campaign, Locke Lord’s D.C. office donated $12,800 to Children’s Law Center – more than any law firm office of its size.

“The generous contributions by the attorneys and staff of Locke Lord’s D.C. office will help Children’s Law Center continue its work toward providing every child in D.C. with a solid foundation of family, health and education,” said Locke Lord lawyer Jennifer Brough, a Children’s Law Center Advisory Board member and pro bono volunteer.

In addition to financial support, Locke Lord also regularly provides pro bono services to Children’s Law Center. Several lawyers from the Firm have been appointed by the D.C. Superior Court to serve as guardians ad litem, representing the best interests of children in complex child custody cases. In their roles as guardians ad litem, the lawyers work collaboratively with families, schools, social services agencies, law enforcement and the courts.

The commitment Locke Lord’s D.C. office has demonstrated to Children’s Law Center is part of a larger Firm-wide pledge to give back to the communities in which we serve. Locke Lord’s active Pro Bono Committee involves lawyers in each of the Firm’s 11 U.S. offices. In 2013, Locke Lord attorneys devoted more than 10,000 hours to pro bono work, ranging from complex political asylum cases that seek safety for people persecuted in their native countries to simple tax matters that make huge differences in the lives of everyday people.

“We are thrilled to present Locke Lord with this year’s Champions for Children award for their generous support of the District’s children,” said Judith Sandalow, executive director of Children’s Law Center. “Because of their support, many more at-risk children will have legal advocates in their corner to help them find a stable home, and overcome barriers to their special education and health needs.”