7/6/12

Michigan State Bar Foundation News

The Michigan State Bar Foundation's Access to Justice Award honors individuals who have significantly advanced access to justice for the poor in Michigan. The 2012 award will be presented to Candace A. Crowley to recognize her career and volunteer leadership advancing access to justice for indigent persons.

Ms. Crowley is currently director of External Development at the State Bar of Michigan where she provides leadership and support for the Committee on Justice Initiatives, the annual statewide Justice Initiatives Summit, and the yearly Bar Leadership Forum as part of her duties. She was also liaison to the Access to Justice Committee of the State Bar's Judicial Crossroads Task Force. Her previous roles at the State Bar included assistant executive director for Access to Justice Fundraising and managing attorney of the Justice Initiatives Division.

Ms. Crowley's long history of legal aid advocacy started before joining the staff of the State Bar of Michigan. As executive director of Lakeshore Legal Aid, she pioneered telephone hotline services, a model now used throughout the state. Her volunteer leadership contributions include serving on the State Bar's Access to Justice Task Force and chair of the Michigan Integration and Merger Committee, which helped produce the seminal 1995 Michigan Plan to guide the statewide delivery of legal services to the poor. She has been a managing and staff attorney at Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services, editor of Michigan Residential Landlord Tenant Law, an ICLE presenter on Summary Proceedings, a trainer of legal aid advocates on basic trial skills, and has made a presentation on Ethical Fundraising at a national conference. She successfully represented countless legal aid clients in federal housing rights issues, public benefits, and consumer matters.

Ms. Crowley is currently a member of the State Planning Body, Michigan Association of Bar Executives, and a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. She is also a member of the Michigan Poverty Law Program Advisory Board and of the education work group for the Solutions on Self-Help Task Force. She has been a board member of many community programs, a certified fundraising executive, and is a hospice volunteer. Ms. Crowley received her B.A. and J.D. from Wayne State University.

Foundation President Margaret Nichols said "Candace Crowley embodies the leadership and contributions this award recognizes. She represents the highest traditions of the legal profession through her dedication to ensuring access to justice for those in need." Ms. Nichols will present the Access to Justice Award to Ms. Crowley on behalf of the Foundation during the State Bar's awards banquet on September 19, 2012.

The Michigan State Bar Foundation provides leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution. For more information, visit www.msbf.org.

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