Elizabeth Murphy, partner in Alston & Bird’s Finance Group and leader of the firm’s Commercial Real Estate Lending & Servicing Team, has been honored by the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy with its “2021 Pro Bono Award” for her commitment to pro bono and volunteer service.
Murphy was honored for representing 14 Central American children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), which is granted to immigrant minors who have been victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment by a parent. She volunteered more than 200 hours in the past five years to ensure they were kept safe with their families in the U.S. and have a path toward residency and citizenship.
With the surge of immigration at the southern border, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy anticipates an increase of children in need of SIJS. As the coordinator for Alston & Bird’s Safe Child Immigrant Project, Murphy has been key in recruiting others at the firm to take on SIJS cases. Overall, Alston & Bird has represented 22 immigrant children.
In addition to her pro bono commitment, Murphy recently became a Charlotte Triage Champion for the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s new Driver’s License Restoration Project. In this role, she recruits attorneys from Charlotte-area law firms and corporations to be trained to help clients restore their licenses and increase access to transportation, employment, and education.
Founded in 1967, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides comprehensive civil legal services to low-income residents in the Charlotte region. Its staff and pro bono attorneys serve 3,500 families each year facing crises of safety, shelter, health, or income.
Murphy was honored for representing 14 Central American children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), which is granted to immigrant minors who have been victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment by a parent. She volunteered more than 200 hours in the past five years to ensure they were kept safe with their families in the U.S. and have a path toward residency and citizenship.
With the surge of immigration at the southern border, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy anticipates an increase of children in need of SIJS. As the coordinator for Alston & Bird’s Safe Child Immigrant Project, Murphy has been key in recruiting others at the firm to take on SIJS cases. Overall, Alston & Bird has represented 22 immigrant children.
In addition to her pro bono commitment, Murphy recently became a Charlotte Triage Champion for the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s new Driver’s License Restoration Project. In this role, she recruits attorneys from Charlotte-area law firms and corporations to be trained to help clients restore their licenses and increase access to transportation, employment, and education.
Founded in 1967, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides comprehensive civil legal services to low-income residents in the Charlotte region. Its staff and pro bono attorneys serve 3,500 families each year facing crises of safety, shelter, health, or income.