Barry Smolowitz Honored with State Bar Association’s 2012 President’s Pro Bono Service Award
 
(Long Island, NY) Barry Smolowitz, an attorney in Kings Park, recently was presented with the New York State Bar Association’s prestigious 2012 President’s Pro Bono Service Award.   Smolowitz launched the Suffolk County Pro Bono Foreclosure Settlement of the Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee to provide free, one-on-one legal consultation to local homeowners facing foreclosure.
 
The State Bar presented the awards at a Law Day luncheon on May 1st at the State Bar Center in Albany. State Bar President Vincent E. Doyle III of Buffalo (Connors & Vilardo) and President-elect Seymour W. James, Jr. of Brooklyn (Legal Aid Society) presided at this year’s ceremony.
 
“The work of pro bono service attorneys makes ‘justice for all’ a reality for New Yorkers. Whether they are a solo practitioner or work in a large law firm, every lawyer can help solve someone else’s problem,” said Doyle.  “It is an honor to recognize such a distinguished group of recipients, including Mr. Smolowitz. They represent the best of our profession.”
 
Smolowitz, of the Law Offices of Barry M. Smolowitz, launched the Suffolk County Pro Bono Foreclosure Settlement of the Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, where homeowners subject to a residential foreclosure filing receive free legal assistance. He recruited and trained volunteers, and later supervised their work at settlement conferences.  He also designed a special website that includes forms, laws, CLE materials, appointment scheduling and an attorney forum.
 
In addition to honoring attorneys representing all of New York’s 13 judicial districts, awards were given to a lawyer practicing for less than 10 years or under the age of 36, a senior lawyer, a large law firm, a mid-size law firm, a small law firm, an in-house counsel, a government counsel, a law student and a law school group.
 
For a complete list of winners, go to www.nysba.org/probonowinners.     
 
The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.