Franklin County Bar Association Celebrates PA Pro Bono Week with Award
CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin County Bar Association celebrated the services of attorneys who donate their time providing civil legal services to low income individuals and families in Franklin County on Thursday, October 15, 2020.
This year’s celebration honored Michael B. Finucane with the 2020 Pennsylvania Bar Association Pro Bono Award. David Trevaskis, the Pro Bono Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, stated “Attorney Michael B. Finucane is being honored with the 2020 PBA Pro Bono Award for both his overall service as an active participant in Franklin County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Program and for his continued work on a particular pro bono divorce case he started several years ago that is still in progress due to its complexity. Mr. Finucane has stayed by his client’s side through it all, providing support and advocacy in this matter of critical importance for his low-income client. Yet, while handling the complicated representation on this long running matter, he has worked other cases, many complex and difficult. He has written briefs, attended hearings, and provided the full gamut of representation for pro bono clients. He has handled pro bono custody, divorce, and estate cases on a regular basis. Attorney Finucane’s willingness to accept difficult cases of varied lengths has resulted in maximizing the number of clients able to receive representation and preventing the pro bono program from turning away clients. He has been a wonderful resource for vulnerable individuals in the Franklin County community, making access to justice are reality for everyone from a homeless client to victims of domestic abuse.”
Andrew J. Benchoff, Franklin County Bar Association president, said “Michael Finucane is a long-time member of the Franklin County Bar Association, who has consistently and regularly, over the course of his career, accepted referrals for pro bono work from our various public interest law firms in Franklin County, including Franklin County Legal Services, Mid Penn Legal Services, and Women in Need, Inc”
Gloria Keener, Executive Director of Franklin County Legal Services and Pro Bono Coordinator of the Franklin County Bar Association shared “Thank you to the Franklin County Bar Association pro bono attorneys for volunteering your expertise and time to help those in need. Thank you for reaching into the most difficult situations and bringing hope. Thank you for your commitment and sacrifice. Congratulations to 2020 PBA Pro Bono award winner Attorney Michael Finucane who, for many years, has volunteered his time in complex cases. The work he has done has been critical in his clients’ lives and has made a lasting, positive impact.”
Paul Edger, managing attorney of MidPenn Legal Services, said “On behalf of myself and the staff of MidPenn Legal Services, we wish to personally thank those Franklin County Bar Association members who generously gave their time and expertise in accepting pro bono referrals for our most vulnerable citizens. By providing an hour of your time, you have made a lifetime of a difference to someone truly in need. Especially during these unprecedented times of a national pandemic, the dedication of the bar members continuing to volunteer even while some have to work from home or have readjusted their office arrangements in order to keep themselves safe, is truly remarkable. We thank each member, and especially congratulate Michael Finucane for his desire to help accept pro bono clients, including some extremely complex matters – his service to the citizens of Franklin County and to the court is truly remarkable and should be celebrated.”
Deborah Dresser Neiderer, managing attorney of Law Offices of Women in Need, stated “On behalf of The Law Offices of Women in Need, we thank you all for your willingness to assist in granting access to justice. The attorneys of the Franklin County Bar Association always answer the call to help; and, it makes all the difference. Congratulations to Attorney Finucane, and much gratitude for your work on behalf of our clients.”
The yearly celebration is held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Bar Association Pro Bono Week. Governor Wolf issued a proclamation designating October 25 – 31 of 2020 as Pro Bono Week in Pennsylvania and stated “I encourage all Pennsylvanians to recognize and appreciate the dedication and contributions of these law professionals to enhancing the lives of their clients, and to support pro bono legal work in their communities.” Pro Bono Week is an opportunity to highlight the differences lawyers make in their communities, to recruit and train more pro bono volunteers and to acknowledge the partnerships that form the basis for many of the private bar’s most successful pro bono efforts.
The Franklin County Bar Association is a membership organization dedicated to pursuing the administration of justice for all persons and upholding the integrity of the profession. The association offers numerous programs for our members and the community at large. For more information, please contact director Amelia Ambrose at 717-267-2032 or [email protected].