Staff attorney Michael Churchill will receive the Philadelphia Bar Foundation Award on November 7th at the Andrew Hamilton Benefit Bash.

The Philadelphia Bar Foundation Award, originally established by the Apothaker family in honor of Louis D. Apothaker, recognizes a public interest attorney who has dedicated his or her life to promoting equal access to justice by working in the non-profit legal services community.

Mr. Churchill joined the Public Interest Law Center in 1976 where he has since “championed the public good in dozens of cases.” There have been exceptional cases that Churchill has taken on in his time here, including a case against SEPTA and our current School Funding Lawsuit. Mr. Churchill is a graduate of Harvard Law School and longtime member of the Philadelphia public interest community. Nominators agreed, “Michael has dedicated his professional life to the public interest, which alone is worthy of recognition.” He continues to be an integral role in our success here at the Public Interest Law Center.

“I’m very pleased to receive this award. The Philadelphia Bar foundation has been such an important support for the Public Interest Law Center for many years,” Mr. Churchill said.

The Philadelphia Bar Foundation is the only foundation in Philadelphia that is solely dedicated to supporting our city’s legal services community. The Bar Foundation strives to provide dependable funding each year to local public interest work and to fulfill its mission of promoting access to justice for all people in the community, particularly those struggling with poverty, abuse and discrimination.

At the gala on November 7, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation will also honor the North America Office of General Counsel of ACE Group with the Pro Bono Award. The Pro Bono Award is presented to a Philadelphia law firm or corporate legal department that demonstrates outstanding volunteer efforts in providing legal services to those in need.