July 08, 2015
Contact: Cari Gerchick (602)340-7235
Print Press Release

Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education Recognizes Legal Community Members

The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (the Foundation) recently recognized a number of members of the legal community and the public for their outstanding work in helping the Foundation achieve its mission of promoting access to justice for all Arizonans.

2015 Award winners include:

• Walter E. Craig Distinguished Services Award – William Hardin

• William E. Morris Pro Bono Service Award – Ernest “Skip” Skinner

• Foundation for Justice Award – Snell & Wilmer

• Mark Santana Law-Related Education Award – Prof. Charles Calleros

• George Lyons Partnering Bank Award – Alliance Bank of Arizona

• Lyons Den Awardees – Bankers Trust, Biltmore Bank of Arizona, Gateway Bank, Midfirst Bank

Walter E. Craig Distinguished Services Award – William Hardin

The Walter E. Craig Distinguished Service Award is given to the attorney who has manifested adherence to the highest principles and tradition of the legal profession and service to the public in the community in which he/she lives. The 2015 recipient is William Hardin.

William Hardin, a partner with Osborn Maledon, is committed to making Arizona a better place to live and to enhance the lives of all Arizonans. Hardin is not someone who is just active in his community; he is the one spearheading multiple initiatives to make our state and country better. In addition to being nationally recognized as one of the leading commercial and transactional lawyers in Arizona, Bill is committed to volunteer efforts focusing on economic development, education, housing and human rights. He has served as co-chair of the Governor's Council on Innovation and Technology and a director of the Arizona Economic Resources Organization. A founder of Equality Arizona, he currently serves on the boards of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Human Services Campus and champions many other community causes. Bill's work epitomizes 'access to justice' by continually striving to assure that Arizonans, and all Americans, have equal protection under the law.

William E. Morris Pro Bono Service Award – Ernest “Skip” Skinner

The William E. Morris Pro Bono Service Award is awarded to recognize extraordinary contributions by an Arizona Attorney in making legal services available to persons who otherwise could not afford them, and thereby to focus public awareness on the substantial voluntary services by Arizona attorneys in this area. The 2015 recipient is Ernest “Skip” Skinner.

Skip, having given ten years of volunteer service to Southern Arizona Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) is a frequent participant in the VLP's Minor Guardianship Project in Probate Court where he supervises law students as they meet with unrepresented clients. In 2014, Skip led 55 VLP Clinics, donated 174 hours of his time and mentored many law students. Almost 2,000 clients have benefitted from his legal expertise and 4,875 children received help through his willingness to help. Foundation for Justice Award – Snell & Wilmer

This award is given to the attorney or attorneys who have devoted expertise and time to changing the justice system to promote access and opportunity for those most vulnerable. The 2015 recipient is the law firm Snell & Wilmer.

In 2014, Snell & Wilmer donated over 9,288 pro bono hours, equating to over $3.8 million of in-kind legal services, were provided from the Arizona offices.

As a whole, over 19,572 pro bono hours, which equated to over $7.9 million of in-kind legal services, were provided by the firm.

Nominated by Community Legal Services, DNA Peoples Legal Services and Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Snell & Wilmer developed a formal pro bono policy that reflected the firm’s long-standing commitment to community service, leadership and the legal profession. Initiated in the late 1980s, the policy fostered a culture of pro bono activity that continues today. Snell & Wilmer attorneys receive hour-for-hour credit towards their annual billable goals for pro bono legal services performed on behalf of the poor. The firm was one of the first in the country to adopt such a program. Snell & Wilmer also provides support and pro bono services through the Volunteer Lawyers Program and champions efforts on behalf of veterans. In 2014 alone, more than 9200 pro bono hours, equating to over $3.8 million of in-kind legal services, were provided by Snell & Wilmer’s Arizona offices. Across all offices, over 19,500 pro bono hours ($7.9 million) were provided by the firm.

The Mark Santana Law Mark Santana Law-Related Education Award – Prof. Charles Calleros

The Mark Santana Law-Related Education Award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona attorneys or law firms in furthering education and understanding the role of the law in our democratic society. This award focuses on public awareness on the contributions that attorneys provide to the community. The 2015 recipient is the Professor Charles Calleros.

Professor Calleros, of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, has been active not only in law related education but in social justice. He founded the HNBA mentoring program in Arizona in the 2005-06 academic year after participating in a conference on pipeline programs co-sponsored by LSAC and the ABA: attorneys, law students, college prelaw students, and high school students meet in subject-matter related teams to develop mentoring relationships, and to receive guidance about preparing for and applying for law school, and about succeeding in law school and gaining insights into practice.

The George Lyons Partnering Bank Award – Alliance Bank of Arizona

This award is given to a bank that has excelled in one or more of the four areas by supporting: • A school or community group to further their efforts in civic education through monetary or volunteer involvement.

• A legal aid agency or law school clinic to further their efforts in providing legal assistance to those without the economic means to afford a private attorney.

• One of the Foundation events or programs during the year through monetary or volunteer involvement.

• Another "access to justice" initiative that furthers the knowledge rights and responsibilities of Arizonans within the justice system.

The 2015 recipient is Alliance Bank of Arizona.

Alliance Bank of Arizona has gone above and beyond this year in supporting not only its community, but access to justice efforts across the state. The bank works with Support of Schools to promote civic responsibility, supports Friendly House and their immigration program and is a sponsor of AzLawHelp.org. Alliance has also contributed to over 300 non-profits, assisted in teaching financial literacy at Junior Achievement, and encourage employee volunteering.

Other banks that have been supportive of Foundation efforts will receive the “Lyons Den” award. Those banks include: Bankers Trust, Biltmore Bank of Arizona, Gateway Bank and Midfirst Bank.

About the Arizona Bar Foundation

The State Bar of Arizona created the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education as a separate 501(c) 3 organization in 1978, charging it with the mission of promoting access to justice for all Arizonans. The Foundation strives to fulfill this mission by preparing Arizona youth for civic responsibility and supporting providers of access to justice for Arizonan's most in need. Through the provision of technical and financial assistance to probation & resource officers, teachers & administrators, private attorneys & judges, and legal service attorneys & advocates, the Foundation works to level the playing field, so that all in Arizona have knowledge and access to the justice systems. To find out more about the programs of the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, visit the www.azflse.org.