Securities and Exchange Commission Awarded for Pro Bono Work

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it has been selected to receive the first ever Federal Agency Pro Bono Leadership Award. The Award is presented by the Interagency Pro Bono Working Group and is meant to recognize and promote public service in which employees help low-income or otherwise needy clients for no compensation.

The SEC actively encourages its employees to undertake pro bono work. Some instances have included working for tenants faced with unjust eviction proceedings and a case where a SEC lawyer worked for a woman seeking child-support from her ex-husband. The husband was also trying to break up the children by fighting for custody of one of the two daughters. The ex-husband lost the custody claim and had his wages garnished as a result of the SEC lawyer's help in the case. The agency also has in the last year organized activities and initiatives such as a Pro Bono Fair and a pro bono program for accountants. SEC employees have also offered advice and legal services through the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Advice and Referral Clinic.

In the SEC press release announcing the Award, Chairman Christopher Cox commended, " Our pro bono coordinator, Anita Purcell, deserves tremendous credit for her dedication and leadership in these remarkable pro bono initiatives. The hard work of SEC employees is the hallmark of the agency's success, and that's just as true in volunteerism as it is with enforcement, rule writing, and other aspects of the SEC's mission. This award recognizes that many people are benefiting from the generous volunteer spirit at the SEC."

The SEC was also named one of the best places to work for within the federal government this year, according to a study by the Partnership for Public Service and the Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation at American University based on data from the federal Office of Personnel Management. The SEC came in third, behind the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Government Accountability Office.

President Clinton established the Interagency Pro Bono Working Group in 1996 through an executive order to promote pro bono programs in federal agencies and their attorneys. The purpose of the order was to "improve access to justice for all persons." The Federal Agency Pro Bono Leadership Award is the first recognition given out by the group.

The Working Group's chairwoman, Laura Klein said in the SEC press release, "The SEC has demonstrated the kind of leadership and commitment to government pro bono efforts that we hope will serve as an example to other agencies."

Source: Securities and Exchange Commission