Recent News

April 24, 2009

Civil Rights Chief to Receive Elam Pro Bono Award

Susan Choe will receive the John C. and Ginny Elam Pro Bono Award to be presented by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer at the Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention in Cleveland on May 14.

Ms. Choe is chief of the Civil Rights Section for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and coordinates the office’s “Save the Dream” program, a foreclosure assistance initiative connecting qualified homeowners with lawyers who provide free legal services. She manages the “Save the Dream” call center and serves as a mentor to assistant attorneys general who have volunteered for the program.

The Elam pro bono award recognizes and encourages exceptional pro bono legal work in Ohio. It is named in memory of John C. Elam who exhibited an abiding interest in encouraging lawyers and law firms to engage in pro bono activities, and generously donated his own time and talents to activities helping to ensure the justice system is available to all. To honor his memory, his wife, Ginny Elam, and his family established the award with the Columbus Bar Foundation to encourage such activities by recognizing exceptional pro bono legal work. In addition to receiving the award, Ms. Choe also earns the right to designate an organization to receive a $5,000 grant from the Fund for service that furthers the intent of the Elam award. She has chosen the Public Interest Law Foundation at the Moritz College of Law, which encourages law students to seek out positions serving underrepresented and underprivileged populations least likely to have access to legal services.