Justice & Diversity Center Honors Coblentz Attorneys as Outstanding Volunteers in Public Service

Coblentz attorneys Duff Beach, Jeff Bernstein, Misti Schmidt, Howard Slavitt, Joy Spezeski, and Katharine Van Dusen were honored by the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco (JDC) as 2017 Outstanding Volunteers. Each year at the annual volunteer appreciation celebration, JDC recognizes and thanks the top 15 percent of people who have made extraordinary contributions to the organization, including JDC’s Pro Bono Legal Services Program, Homeless Advocacy Project, Immigrant Legal Defense Program, and Diversity Educational Programs. Last year, over 2,000 volunteers assisted more than 9,000 low-income clients through legal representation, and related social services, in nearly every area of civil law.  Volunteers also provided over 700 students with counseling, coaching and mentoring in efforts to increase diversity in the legal profession.

“JDC is thrilled to recognize all our guests who partnered with us to provide access to justice, and to a more diverse legal profession. We’re also deeply grateful and honored to have the Courts join us in expressing gratitude for public service”, said Gloria Chun, Director and Managing Attorney of JDC’s Pro Bono Legal Services Program.

The JDC advances fairness and equality by providing pro bono legal services to low-income people and educational programs that foster diversity in the legal profession. JDC is the largest legal services providers in San Francisco. JDC’s programs serve approximately 9,500 disadvantaged San Franciscans a year, with the overarching goal of assisting the community’s most vulnerable members with accessing the judicial system and strengthening their personal, professional, and economic security.