Sheppard Mullin Awards Nick Akers Pro Bono Attorney of the Year; Firm Inaugurates Annual Recognition of Outstanding Community Commitment.Business Editors LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2004 Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol announced today that it will honor Nicklas ("Nick") A. Akers with the firm's first annual SMRH Pro Bono Short for pro bono publico [Latin, For the public good]. The designation given to the free legal work done by an attorney for indigent clients and religious, charitable, and other nonprofit entities. Attorney of the Year Award, an award that recognizes the important community service work done by Sheppard Mullin attorneys. As part of the award presentation on April 21, the firm will donate $5,000 to the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA LAFLA Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles ). Sheppard Mullin attorneys work with LAFLA on a regular basis to provide representation to low income clients. "The firm has a long history of commitment to the community and is very proud of the pro bono efforts of our lawyers," said Guy Halgren, chair of Sheppard Mullin's Executive Committee. "Nick truly embodies Sheppard Mullin's core value of community by providing legal services to those who could otherwise not afford representation." "We are pleased Sheppard Mullin chose LAFLA as the recipient of this generous donation and congratulate Nick as the firm's Pro Bono Attorney of the Year," said Bruce Iwasaki, executive director of LAFLA. "This award sends a wonderful message and establishes a great tradition throughout the firm." Nick Akers is a graduate of Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (colloquially, Harvard Law or HLS) is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Law is considered one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States. and a fourth-year associate in the firm's Los Angeles office where he works as a member of Sheppard Mullin's Real Estate, Land Use, Environmental and Construction Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Practice Group. Mr. Akers volunteers to provide legal services to the California Army National Guard The California Army National Guard is a component of the California National Guard, the United States Army and the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers. , its soldiers, and their families as a first lieutenant and judge advocate in the California State Military Reserve. He also devotes time to indigent indigent 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she cannot provide the necessities of life (food, clothing, decent shelter) for himself/herself. 2) n. one without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in a criminal case. pro bono matters including the representation of petitioners under the immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. provisions of the violence against women act and adoptive parents in dependency court adoptions. "I am grateful for the firm's support," said Akers. "Pro bono is one of the finest traditions of our profession. It offers an unmatched opportunity for service to the community, personal fulfillment, and professional development. I am pleased that Sheppard Mullin's donation will support the vital work performed by LAFLA." Sheppard Mullin's SMRH Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award has been instituted this year as the firm's highest pro bono honor to recognize and reward the important community service work done by Sheppard Mullin attorneys. Sheppard Mullin recognizes Nick on behalf of all its attorneys that provide high-caliber legal and professional services to persons of limited means and to charitable and civic organizations. About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Sheppard Mullin is a national law firm with more than 400 attorneys and eight offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, West Los Angeles
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