OC Business Journal

LEGAL: Volunteers for Justice event raises $683K for free law services

► Troutman Pepper’s Samrah Mahmoud, partner; Sheila Chen, associate; Steven Allison, partner; Christy Markos, associate; Marissa Grignon, director of business development; Sheri Clifton, office administrator

The Public Law Center (PLC) held its annual Volunteers for Justice Event on June 16 at The Promenade and Gardens by Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa. The event brought together more than 500 leaders from the Orange County legal, business and civic communities for an outdoor cocktail reception and both a silent and live auction.

More than $683,000 was raised for PLC’s mission to provide free legal services to low-income residents in Orange County.

The 90 event sponsors included Crowell & Moring LLP; Knobbe Martens; Latham & Watkins LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP; Troutman Pepper; Aitken Aitken Cohn; Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara LLP; Federal Bar Association of Orange County; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

LLP; Paul Hastings LLP; Rutan & Tucker LLP; and Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth.

The evening honored PLC’s Law Firm of the Year, Troutman Pepper, for its commitment to providing pro bono services and championing the rights of clients living in underserved communities.

Women’s Transitional Living Center Inc. (WTLC) was also recognized as PLC’s Community Partner of the Year for its work with PLC supporting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

The event concluded with a special send-off to Ken Babcock, PLC’s executive director of 22 years, who is retiring later this year. Under Babcock’s leadership, PLC grew from a staff of 12 to 50-plus, and from an annual budget of $720,000, to more than $7 million. This growth led to the introduction of new programs including the Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project and Operation Veterans’ Re-Entry.

Babcock also expanded PLC’s work in the areas of eviction defense, domestic violence, affordable housing advocacy and medical-legal partnerships.

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