Pro Bono Legal Services

O’Connell and Aronowitz is Proudly Committed to Providing Pro Bono Legal Services to Our Community.

OA Accepts award
We are proud of our long-term relationships with local organizations including The Legal Project of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association and The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, whose missions coincide with our Firm’s commitment to strengthen our community. In the last decade, our attorneys have performed over 5,000 hours of pro bono work within our community to facilitate equal access to justice. Shareholder Kurt Bratten, who leads our Firm’s Pro Bono Committee, accepted the President’s Pro Bono Service Award by the New York State Bar Association at the NYSBA’s awards ceremony this spring.

Kurt_20Bratten-2 Over 560 hours of pro bono work was performed by our attorneys last year.  We take seriously our professional responsibility to “render public interest and pro bono legal service to individuals seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, or to not for profit, government or public service organizations” and to those less fortunate. (New York Lawyer’s Code of Professional Responsibility, EC 2-34). Kurt Bratten, pictured, who leads the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee, accepts an award from The Legal Project of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association. O’Connell and Aronowitz was honored at an October 2014 event for support for of an innovative new collaboration between The Legal Project and Albany Law School that provides legal services to domestic violence victims in the Capital Region.

Pro Bono In Action

  • O’Connell and Aronowitz was honored with the Legal Services Corporation’s 2014 Pro Bono Service Award which recognizes extraordinary commitment to equal justice.
  • Jami Durante Rogowski and Brittnay McMahon provided pro bono consultations at Veteran’s Clinic hosted by Saratoga County Bar Association in conjunction with April 2014 Law Day celebration.
  • Associate Brittnay McMahon in September 2013 won a pro bono victory in Court representing a mother of four facing eviction with a gravely ill child. Brittnay’s successful effort will allow the family additional time in their apartment.
  • In April 2013, the NYS Bar Association awarded Neil Rivchin and Will Berglund the honorary designation of Empire State Counsel for their pro bono services on behalf of the most vulnerable and needy residents of the Capital District.