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Mid-Shore Pro Bono honored some of the individuals contributing their time and efforts to the organization and the community at a recent awards reception. The event was held at Krystal Q in Easton in conjunction with the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, which also recognized its own honorees. Reception sponsors included Anthony Walter Duncan, CPA, Patti’s Petals Florist, the Law Office of Thomas N. Yeager and the Tilghman family.

Keynote speaker for the event was the Honorable Ben C. Clyburn, Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland. Judge Clyburn described his efforts to bring the victim’s perspective into the system and make certain that the interpretation of the law does not exacerbate the risk to victims of domestic violence.
He noted that there have been more than 25,000 domestic violence cases in the state of Maryland this year. Outlining a plan to use electronic monitoring, video conferencing and electronic document assembly and transfer, Judge Clyburn emphasized the need to eliminate what he called the “critical delay in time” that can allow further violence against victims. He commended both Mid-Shore Pro Bono and Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence for their efforts in providing services to these victims.

MSPB Board President Leigh Melton and Executive Director Sandy Brown presented awards to five individuals who have contributed significantly to the agency’s ability to provide that service to its clients.

John Cambardella received the Legacy Award for his long-term contributions to Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s mission and providing continuous assistance to the organization over the years. As Family Services Coordinator for the Circuit Court of Caroline County, he helps ensure that potential clients with family law matters before the court are aware of the availability of representation through MSPB. Melton noted that Cambardella’s dedication had substantially improved the ability of the organization to provide such representation to Caroline County residents.

The Impact Award was presented to Barbara Mitchell, Family Services Coordinator for the Circuit Court of Talbot County. The award honors an individual who “hits the ground running” and materially assists MSPB by immediately improving its ability to serve its clients.

Mitchell was recognized for her initiative in contacting MSPB when apparently simple cases become more complex. “As a result of her efforts,” said Melton, “Mid-Shore Pro Bono has been able to more fully represent its clients and to provide attorney representation to individuals who would otherwise be left to navigate the system without proper guidance.”

Richard Tettlebaum received the organization’s Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing the work of an individual who not only accepts clients for pro bono representation, but also actively assists the staff and organization, helping it to accomplish its mission more effectively.

Tettlebaum participates in MSPB’s weekly clinic, providing advice to the residents of the five counties served by the organization, as well as accepting numerous clients, particularly in the areas of foreclosure prevention and consumer credit. In a critical situation, he personally assumed responsibility for a number of cases where the clients had not been properly advised of their status during the foreclosure process. Melton commended Tettlebaum for his constant and tireless work that had materially improved MSPB operations and substantially raised its profile within the community.

Each year, Mid-Shore Pro Bono salutes outstanding legal service to the low-income community with its male and female Attorney of the Year Awards. The awards are presented to attorneys whose efforts demonstrate exceptional contributions to the public good not only by accepting cases, but by the highly professional resolution of those cases for the clients and the legal system.

Basil Wadkovsky has accepted a significant number of cases from MSPB and successfully brought to conclusion two-thirds of them, in addition to running his own practice. Balancing the professional and administrative demands of being one of two principals in a small firm, Melton said Wadkovsky has effectively channeled his efforts to ensure excellent representation to both his pro bono and other clients, bringing distinction to the profession.

The second Attorney of the Year award recipient, Sasha Drobnick, was honored for her work supporting MSPB’s services to clients with contested custody and foreclosure cases. She has contributed administratively by assisting office staff with the review of cases to better prioritize them for referral.
While developing her own sole practitioner legal practice, she has also accepted the largest number of pro bono clients of any attorney in the five-county area. Melton noted that Drobnick had been instrumental in clarifying the resolution of a large number of open cases where clients had sought assistance following notification of the intent to foreclose.

Sandy Brown thanked Jeanne Yeager, Executive Director of Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, for sharing the event with Mid-Shore Pro Bono. Congratulating the award winners, Brown commended all the organization’s volunteers for helping to address the critical need for legal assistance within the low-income communities of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.

“We have a growing need for volunteers to help these individuals who would otherwise fall through the cracks in the legal system,” she said. Brown encouraged more attorneys and others to make a difference by volunteering to take cases or help in the office or clinic.

For more information, call Mid-Shore Pro Bono at 410-690-8128 or visit www.midshoreprobono.org.