Goodwin patent litigator Elaine Blais was recently honored for her commitment to community and pro bono work with the Boston Bar Association's Thurgood Marshall Award. Blais, who serves as head of the Litigation Department in Boston, was recognized at BBA's annual Law Day Dinner on May 15.
The BBA commended Blais for her "work representing immigrant children in Massachusetts" and her "ability to maintain a successful career in a demanding profession while also seeking to improve the lives of others."
For the last five years, Blais has represented unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in their deportation proceedings through Kids in Need of Defense. Since 2008, she has also represented adults seeking asylum through PAIR and Immigration Equality.
The Thurgood Marshall Award is presented annually to a lawyer in Greater Boston for extraordinary efforts in enhancing the human dignity of others through improving or delivering services to Massachusetts's low income population.
Goodwin was honored with the award in 2008 for its work "commitment to representing people who have been wrongfully convicted and tackling the problem of wrongful convictions generally through its support of the New England Innocence Project."