35th Annual Pro Bono Awards, Michael Garcia Keynote

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Law Day: New York State Bar Association Honors Attorneys for Professionalism and Commitment to Pro Bono Service

4.24.2026

By Jennifer Andrus

April 24, 2026

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• News Center
• Law Day: New York State Bar Association Honors Attorneys for Professionalism and Commitment to Pro Bono Service

The New York State Bar Association is recognizing lawyers who have made an exceptional commitment to serving the public good during its 35th Annual President’s Pro Bono Service Awards on Law Day.

The highlight will be a keynote address by Associate Judge Michael Garcia of the New York State Court of Appeals. The Law Day theme this year is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”

“When we think about the American Dream and the Rule of Law, it speaks to our core mission to promote equal justice,” said New York State Bar Association President Kathleen Sweet. “On this Law Day, we recognize attorneys who ask for no compensation to take on the tough cases from the neediest clients. Lawyers from Buffalo to Albany to New York City are contributing countless pro bono hours to New Yorkers in need.”

The ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. May 1 at the Bar Center in Albany.

Steven Patterson of Poughkeepsie, a 30-year veteran of criminal defense law, has been selected for the Attorney Professionalism Award, which is given out at the Law Day ceremony. Through his work at the Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office and the Putnam County Legal Aid Society, he has represented thousands of criminal defendants. He continues this work now in private practice at McCabe, Coleman, Ventosa and Patterson.

“Steve Patterson has expertly handled some of the Mid-Hudson Valley’s most serious criminal cases,” said New York State Bar Association President Kathleen Sweet. “He is recognized in his community for the highest professional standards and unwavering integrity in serving his clients.”

The New York State Bar Association honors attorneys from across the state for volunteering their time and expertise to people in need such as survivors of domestic violence, tenants trying to remain in their homes and immigrants facing deportation.

Here is a full list of this year’s President’s Pro Bono Award recipients:

First Judicial District (Manhattan)

Jeffrey Xu is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s finance group advising financial institutions and other companies on a broad range of financing transactions. In addition to his practice, Xu volunteers helping elderly and low-income New Yorkers prepare essential life planning documents.

Third Judicial District (Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster counties)

Since Joanne Haelen retired in 2024, she volunteered with the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York.  Through the Legal Aid’s Attorney for the Day Program, she appears in Albany and Troy City courts, representing tenants in eviction proceedings

Fourth Judicial District (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, Washington counties)

Richard Ernst dedicated his career to public service law starting in 1982 in the Albany County District Attorney’s office and moving on to the New York Attorney General’s office and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. After 40 years, Ernst began volunteering full time for legal services organizations helping clients with housing, state tax issues and 17A guardianship cases.

Fifth Judicial District (Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego counties)

Elet Callahan devoted her career to education in law and public policy at Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. In retirement, she has turned her focus to providing dispute resolution for individuals and families in conflict. She also works for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Central New York in its Family Court Clinic.

Seventh Judicial District (Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Yates counties)

John Holt has devoted his career to leading the legal research department in the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. In addition, he volunteers twice a month for JustCause, representing tenants facing eviction in town court.

Eighth Judicial District (Allegheny, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming counties)

Marissa Wenzel is a career litigator whose practice focuses on complex trial and appellate litigation. She also maintains an active pro bono practice, leading two successful immigration appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She also litigated pro bono cases involving reproductive rights and racial justice.

Ninth Judicial District (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester counties)

Emily Richman juggles her full-time parenting duties with a pro bono career as a volunteer at the Pace Women’s Justice Center in White Plains. She assists victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable clients in a wide range of legal issues including divorce and asylum.

Tenth Judicial District (Nassau and Suffolk counties)

Helen Tuckman i s an associate in Vishnick McGovern Milizio’s Wills, Trusts, and Estates practice group. She is passionate about helping her clients plan their future, protect themselves and their loved ones, and secure their legacy with peace of mind.

Twelfth Judicial District (Bronx County)

Mark Reinharz practiced labor and employment law for 40 years on behalf of management and local governments. In retirement, he volunteers with Mobilization for Justice, counseling individuals on all aspects of labor law including wage discrimination, paid leave and unemployment benefits.

Thirteenth Judicial District (Richmond County)

Charles DeStefano finds great satisfaction in his pro bono work helping prepare Last Will and Testaments for patients who are terminally ill. He also enjoys staffing the Legal Help Desks set up at community events.  In addition to many community and bar association positions, DeStefano dedicates his time to organizations helping immigrants and people with developmental disabilities.

Y oung Attorney

Brandon Carlson divides his time between his commercial litigation practice at Adams Leclair in Rochester and volunteer work at JustCause. Carlson started volunteering while still in law school and continues his pro bono work by helping more than 100 residents in just 18 months fight eviction in town courts.

Senior Attorney

Matthew Chachere is a volunteer emeritus attorney with Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation Legal Services in Washington Heights, following a career as a staff attorney there. His tenure produced groundbreaking decisions helping abate lead paint in New York City’s housing, schools and infrastructure. He turned that into political action advocating for lead poisoning prevention legislation.

Law Student

Daniel Bugingo is a third-year law student at Columbia School of Law. He is using his background in computer science and math to build new computerized workflows for uncontested divorces in the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. Previously, he interned for Amnesty International where he digitized handwritten demographic records from West Africa and rebuilt the amnesty.sn website.

Small Law firm

Phillips, Artura and Cox is a small Long Island law firm that is deeply committed to pro bono service, with a focus on bankruptcy law. Through a partnership with Legal Services of Long Island, the firm has helped countless low-income individuals and families obtain the fresh start they need to rebuild their financial stability.

**** Large Law Firm

At Debevoise and Plimpton, pro bono service has been central to its work culture. The firm focuses its pro-bono work on helping underserved people overcome hurdles preventing them from starting new lives. The firm collaborates with social service organizations and global corporations to provide equal access to justice.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Scholarship

The New York State Bar Association’s Women in Law Section is awarding Hofstra law student Leivys Maria Garcia the scholarship for her exemplary work on behalf of women and girls. In addition to being first in her law school class, Garcia works in Hofstra Law Asylum Clinic representing transgender immigrants who are escaping persecution in their homelands.

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