Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Page 3
Andrew Guilford to Receive Pro Bono Attorney Award
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Former State Bar President Andrew Guilford will be honored with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award, the firm said yesterday.
The firm issued a release saying Guilford will be presented the award, given to an attorney within the firm for community service work, April 19. The firm will donate $5,000 to the Public Law Center in Orange County in the recipient’s honor.
The center provides free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy. Guilford is a former president of the center, as well as a member of the Self-Represented Litigants Task Force appointed by Chief Justice Ronald M. George.
“I am honored by the firm’s recognition and support,” Guilford said in a statement. “Pro bono offers an excellent opportunity to serve the community, while achieving personal fulfillment and professional development. I am pleased that Sheppard Mullin’s donation will support the vital work performed by the Public Law Center.”
Guilford, who was the State Bar president in 1999-2000, was nominated in January by President Bush to replace Dickran M. Tevrizian as a U.S. District Court judge. Tevrizian went on senior status Aug. 5 last year. If confirmed the Sentate, he will likely sit in Santa Ana.
In 2004, the Costa Mesa-based Guilford was honored by the Orange County Bar Association with a career achievement award.
“Andy has been a stalwart Sheppard Mullin pro bono time donor and supporter for 30 years,” Guy Halgren, chair of the firm’s Executive Committee said in a statement. “He’s been a pro bono advocate within and outside the firm, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he’s done as much work to provide access to justice for the indigent as any other lawyer in the State of California, including a number of successful initiatives during his tenure as the California State Bar President.”
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Pro Bono Chair Bob Gerber also praised Guilford.
“During his time at Sheppard Mullin, Andy has been a leader in indigent probono legal efforts,” Gerber said in a release. “He has personally accepted many challenging pro bono cases, and has encouraged his fellow attorneys to accept pro bono work. In awarding this year’s honor, we would be remiss if we did not consider his long standing and exceptional contributions to the firm’s pro bono efforts and to the pro bono legal community.”
Guilford has donated on the average of 200 indigent pro bono legal services annually over the last three years, the firm said.
Copyright 2006, Metropolitan News Company