Seymour James Jr., president of the New York State Bar Association and attorney-in-charge of criminal practice at The Legal Aid Society, will receive the American Bar Association's Dorsey Award at an Aug. 3 ceremony in Chicago. The award is presented by the ABA's Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division to honor a public defender or legal aid attorney.
James was selected because his "innovative projects and accomplishments have significantly improved the delivery of legal services to New York's most needy residents," according to the ABA. "He integrated the use of social workers into the arraignment process to help identify clients with mental health issues and speedily develop a plan for access to essential services; he established the Trafficking Victims Legal Defense and Advocacy project; and he developed landmark case caps legislation to address excessive caseloads."
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