Perkins Coie Honored With 2011 Beacon of Justice Award by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Perkins Coie is pleased to have been named as a recipient of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association's (NLADA) 2011 Beacon of Justice Award honoring 14 law firms across the country that have innovative public-private partnerships that protect equal justice for all through appellate litigation. This is the fourth time the firm has received this award.

Jo-Ann Wallace, president and CEO of the NLADA, wrote, "When individuals do not have access to counsel to navigate the complex appeals process the results are serious, life-altering consequences for countless individuals and their families. Moreover, it represents a breakdown of our justice system, which is predicated on a system of checks and balances. These 14 firms have shown a true commitment to justice by stepping up to represent issues and people that would otherwise be forced to navigate the appellate process without any guidance. The outcomes in these cases have been true victories not only for the parties to the case, but for the greater Justice system. NLADA is deeply grateful to these firms for their contributions to the quest for access to justice."

Perkins' attorneys have provided pro bono counsel on numerous appellate-related matters including domestic partnership rights, death row appeals, indigent defense, family law, immigration and veteran’s claims. Perkins has defended victories and has sought relief for clients in appellate courts across the country including Bureau of Immigration Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. The award was accepted by Washington, D.C. partner, Jena MacLean, at the December 6, 2011 Exemplar Award Dinner held in Washington, D.C.

The NLADA is the oldest and largest nonprofit association of individual legal professionals and legal organizations in the country. It is devoted to ensuring the delivery of legal services to the poor. NLADA serves as the collective voice for both civil legal services and public defense services throughout the nation.