Each year the Family Law Awards recognize family law advocates for their outstanding dedication and commitment to legal services for low-income Californians. More about the Family Law Awards.
Following are the 2013 honorees.
Harry Jacobs, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Center for Children, Families, and the Courts (Court Staff)
Above: Hon. Steven Jahr, Harry Jacobs, and Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Harry Jacobs first joined the Administrative Office of the Courts as a contractor while pursuing his master’s degree in information sciences at UC Berkeley. After many years as a tax attorney at Morrison & Foerster, he decided to develop skills to use technology to assist low-income people with legal problems. While in graduate school, he was the lead developing the first comprehensive statewide court self-help website in the country. Harry brought his cutting edge programs and creative use of technology to the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County’s Domestic Abuse Self-Help (DASH) Project. His efforts have truly transformed the delivery of legal services in California and have assisted millions of people.
Amanda Fleming, Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center (Direct Representation)
Amanda Fleming has dedicated her entire career to public interest law, serving low-income, working-poor families. In 2009, Amanda initiated the homeless veterans project at New Directions Rehabilitation Center at the Veterans Administration. She has provided direct legal services, including court representation, to homeless veterans. In 2010, Amanda was instrumental in implementing Levitt & Quinn’s portion of a Sargent Shriver Pilot Project with Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice. The project offers free legal services to low-income families in custody and domestic violence cases. With a master’s degree in dispute resolution, she has promoted settlement in most of these highly litigated cases. Her wisdom and insight have improved the lives of countless self-represented and represented litigants.