Ted Howard Discusses Critical Importance of Legal Aid, Highlighted by the Work of SCLAID Award Honorees

September 3, 2020

Theodore A. Howard, Wiley’s Pro Bono Partner, was quoted in a September 3 ABA Journal article highlighting the work of Centennial Access to Justice Award recipients who were named by the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID).

The honorees – Amalia Beckner, an assistant public defender in the Felony Trial Division of the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, and Kallie Dale-Ramos, a staff attorney for the Montana Health Justice Partnership at the Montana Legal Services Association – received their awards during ABA’s annual meeting last month. Each lawyer was given a scholarship to be applied toward their student loan expenses. The inaugural awards program is part of SCLAID’s 100th anniversary celebration.

“One of the things we hope to do is shine a light on the critical importance of legal services for the poor,” said Mr. Howard, who chairs SCLAID. “One of the motivating factors behind the creation of these awards, which Amalia and Kallie were honored with, was to focus attention on and celebrate the activities of younger lawyers who are really making a difference in this space.

“They will be the kinds of leaders that we will be recognizing 20 years, 30 years from now as having made a huge impact on access to justice.”

SCLAID works on matters relating to civil legal aid and public defender services. Since its founding in 1920, the 11-member committee has been a national leader in the movement to expand access to justice and provide legal services to low-income populations.

To read the article, click here (subscription may be required).