Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service has announced that Alan J. Belsky, managing partner of Belsky, Weinberg and Horowitz, LLC, along with nine other lawyers, one law firm, and the United States Bankruptcy Court, will be honored at the MVLS ceremony on October 27th at the University of Maryland School of Law's Westminster Hall.  Mr. Belsky is being honored for providing pro bono representation to MVLS clients for ten consecutive years.  Since going into private practice, Mr. Belsky has represented over 75 pro bono clients in a variety of legal matters, including age/race discrimination and consumer bankruptcy cases.  

In addition to Mr. Belsky, the following firms and attorneys are being honored by MVLS:

--The law firm of Ober Kaler has been named the MVLS 2009 law firm of the year in recognition of the services the firm's lawyers have provided to its clients;

-- Melanie Murray Mfume will be honored with the volunteer of the year award for her representation of low-income clients in foreclosure cases and support of the Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project;

-- Lawrence D. Coppel will receive the leadership award for his work as treasurer of MVLS' board of directors and for improving services to low-income people in bankruptcy cases.

-- The University of Maryland School of Law's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic will be presented with the partnership award for 10 years of partnering with the MVLS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic;

--  The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Baltimore will be honored with the award for special project of the year for its Debtor Assistance Project offering free legal advice in bankruptcy cases for people unable to afford an attorney;

--  The MVLS Ten-Year Award will be presented to lawyers Alan J. Belsky, C. Christopher Brown, Constance M. Hare, Mary T. Keating, Christopher R. Rahl, Steven D. Silverman and James L. Wiggins.

-- MVLS will also present a special pro bono award to U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin.