For her years of dedication to the provision of legal aid and advancement of equal access to justice, ALI Life member Helaine M. Barnett received the Outstanding Service Award. Ms. Barnett worked for 37 years as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of New York. Her accomplishments include establishing the Homeless Family Rights Project and organizing the 9/11 Disaster Assistance Initiative. She was appointed President of the Legal Services Corporation and served for six years, she was then appointed by the Chief Judge of New York to chair a statewide Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services, now known as the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice.
Ms. Barnett received the award during the 61st annual Fellows Award Reception and Banquet hosted by The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation at the ABA’s Midyear Meeting (February 1-5, 2017).
Learn more about the ABF and the Reception here.