In a tough economy, lawyers still champion access to justice
May 11th, 2009 by Mark Cohen
Despite the still struggling economy, the annual Legal Aid Law Day dinner/fundraiser last week was a big success . The event raised a record amount for legal services to the poor – nearly a quarter of a million dollars, according to Jerry Lane, the executive director of Mid Minnesota Legal Assistance.
I can tell you that the ballroom at the Mariott City Center in Minneapolis was completely packed (reportedly there were 800-plus attendees), with many local law firms with a table (or two) full of folks supporting the cause, including a good number that had premium sponsorships.
Minneapolis attorney Seymour Mansfield was honored for his many contributions to the cause. U.S. Bankcorp CEO Richard K. Davis delivered the keynote address, coincidentally on the same day that federal regulators announced that his bank had fared well in the much-anticipated “stress tests” of financial institutions throughout the country. Davis said there was no cause more worthy than Legal Aid.
In any event, kudos to members of the Minnesota legal community for showing up in force and making the Legal Aid event such a success during a tough economic time. Such an admirable showing of support is probably not something you’ll see noted on the front page of the Strib or on the local TV news, but it’s something to chew on the next time you hear a lawyer joke.
