Bar association to honor lawyer who aids homeless.

Byline: Gary V. Murray

WORCESTER - Worcester lawyer Wendy J. Rickles will be honored by the Massachusetts Bar Association next month for her volunteer efforts to meet the legal needs of the city's homeless.

Ms. Rickles, a sole practitioner, will be among five lawyers and two law firms receiving recognition May 7 at the bar association's Access to Justice Awards Luncheon at Boston's John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.

State Rep. Harold P. Naughton Jr., D-Clinton, will be presented the association's Legislator of the Year Award at the event. Jayne B. Tyrrell, executive director of the Massachusetts Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts program, will receive the President's Award.

Ms. Rickles has been chosen as the recipient of this year's Pro Bono Publico Award for what the association described as "her volunteer efforts in criminal, family and employment law, especially her numerous outreach efforts to fulfill the legal needs of Worcester's homeless population."

A graduate of Villanova School of Law, Ms. Rickles has served as a member and chairwoman of the Worcester County Bar Association's Committee on Services to the Poor and Homeless and began the local bar association's annual coat drive, which distributes winter coats to area shelters. She also has organized association-sponsored dinners at local shelters.

"The message of giving back has been the most important thing I inherited from my parents and grandparents. There has always been a tradition of tikkun olum in our family. In Jewish culture, tikkun olum is a commandment that means the healing of the world.

"Our parents instilled the virtues of hard work and community service in my sister and me. Their generosity and love for helping others set an early example for both of us," Ms. Rickles said.

Also scheduled to receive awards are lawyer Barbara Kaban of the Children's Law Center in Lynn; James M. McCreight of Greater Boston Legal Services; Tennant Lubell LLC of Newton; McDermott Will & Emery of Boston; Lawrence J. McGuire of the state Committee for Public Counsel Services in Salem and Aloke Chakravarty, an assistant U.S. attorney in Boston.

"We are thrilled to recognize our outstanding colleagues who selflessly offer their time and expertise to offer vital services to those who need it the most in the commonwealth," said Edward W. McIntyre of Clinton, Massachusetts Bar Association president.