June 1, 2011 (LOS ANGELES) — The Western Center on Law & Poverty is gearing up to “party with a Rock Star” as it celebrates legal justice professionals at its annual Fair Shake Event on June 22. This year’s event – held at the Elevate Lounge in downtown Los Angeles – will honor Hellen Hong of the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice and Margaret Branick-Abilla of Cooley LLP.   The unique fundraising event brings together 300 of the top law firms in the city and state to benefit the work of the organization.

“Western Center is proud of the fact that we are able to recognize the work being done by young people in the legal field,” said Paul Tepper, executive director. “There are so many young attorneys dedicated to working on behalf of low-income families and individuals throughout California and we are pleased that we can recognize and foster their commitment.”

Each year, the Western Center’s Fair Shake event recognizes up-and-coming heroes who are working in conjunction with Western Center to fight for the rights of poor people in vital areas such as housing, health care and public benefits. Rock Stars are chosen for the talent and sensitivity they have demonstrated in combating the injustices suffered by disadvantaged people. Hundreds of attorneys, young professionals and advocates from throughout the region and the State come out to the Fair Shake event to celebrate the honorees and their work.

This year’s honorees include Margaret Branick-Abilla, a litigation associate with the law firm Cooley LLP who provided critical pro bono legal services in a case filed by the Western Center, Disability Rights California, and Cooley LLP. The successful class action lawsuit sought to enjoin Sacramento County’s plan to terminate outpatient mental health services to thousands of indigent Medi-Cal patients. Honoree Hellen Hong serves as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Center for Law, where she has grown the organization and increased private funding 300% over the past two years, allowing LACLJ to expand services, hire new staff and serve community members who may not be eligible for legal services.

Western Center’s Fair Shake is supported by many of the top law firms in Los Angeles and is a veritable Who’s Who of the next generation of California’s leading attorneys and legal minds.   
   
For additional information on the Fair Shake event, contact Aurora Colindres at (213) 235-2621 or via e-mail at acolindres@wclp.org.

About the Western Center on Law & Poverty
The Western Center on Law and Poverty is an independent nonprofit law firm founded in 1967 as a joint legal clinic of the law schools of USC, UCLA and Loyola.  We bring about system-wide change on behalf of low-income individuals and families through pivotal impact litigation; hard hitting advocacy; negotiations with state and local government; and support for local legal aid programs.  The Western Center’s work reaches every county in the state of California.