OLAF | Statewide Foundation Presents Two Major Awards to Columbus Lawyers

Press Release

Statewide Foundation Presents Two Major Awards to Columbus Lawyers

July 24, 1998

The Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation (OLAF), a statutorily-created non-profit foundation charged with developing funding for Ohio's legal aid societies and creating new programs to meet the civil legal needs of Ohio's poor, recently presented its major annual award, and created a new honor to present each year.

Denis J. Murphy, the founding president of OLAF and a long-time advocate for improving access to justice for the poor, received the OLAF Presidential Award in honor of his many contributions to the cause. Murphy is a partner in the Columbus law firm of Carlile, Patchen and Murphy. He is a past president of the Columbus Bar Association and is active in the American Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association. He was one of the shaping forces behind the statewide assessment in 1991 that showed only 17 percent of the civil legal needs of Ohio's poor are met. The report findings led to the creation of OLAF.

"Denis Murphy has made invaluable contributions over the years to the cause of justice for all. Because of his efforts, more poor people in Ohio are able to access our cherished system of laws. Ohio's loss is Maryland's gain," said OLAF Board President Thomas V. Chema in presenting the award. Murphy is moving at summer's end to Maryland where he will help establish a new neighborhood legal services program.

In a continuing tribute to Murphy's efforts, OLAF created the Denis J. Murphy Award which will be presented annually to a staff member at a legal aid society who has made outstanding contributions. The inaugural winner of the Murphy Award was Ken Curtin, an attorney with Columbus Legal Aid Society. Curtin has been a longtime advocate with the program.

About OLAF What's New Pro Bono IOLTA/IOTA Filing Fees Donate FAQ Contact Us Home Site Map Links