Henry J. Sommer Legal Aid Scholarship

NACBA Awards Henry J. Sommer Scholarship to Nate Juster of Atlanta Legal Aid

Attorney Nate Juster

Each year, one bankruptcy attorney who demonstrates outstanding contributions in his or her community is granted a scholarship from National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) to attend its national convention at no cost. This year, NACBA’s coveted Henry J. Sommer Legal Aid Scholarship goes to Nate Juster, attorney, with the Home Defense Program at Atlanta Legal Aid Society, for his dedication to representing low-income homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes, many of whom were victims of predatory lending or abusive servicing.

The Henry J. Sommer Scholarship recognizes exceptional attorneys who show the same dedication of service to their clients that President Emeritus Henry J. Sommer (2005 to 2008 and Board of Directors member 1992 to 2011) gave to NACBA. The 2017 Annual Convention will be held May 4-7, 2017 in Orlando, FL. Along with being awarded convention registration and materials, Juster will take part in celebrating NACBA’s 25th Anniversary in Disney.

NACBA Executive Director Dan LaBert said: “We are pleased to provide this esteemed scholarship to Nate. It gives him the opportunity to gain invaluable resources to enhance his profession and the ability to connect with a vast network of consumer bankruptcy attorneys.”

Nate Juster said: “I am honored to receive a scholarship from NACBA recognizing the importance of legal aid work and the many contributions Henry Sommer made to the practice of bankruptcy law. I look forward to attending NACBA’s Annual Convention, where I hope meet and learn from other consumer bankruptcy practitioners and develop techniques to help struggling homeowners.”

Juster graduated with honors from Emory Law School. While in law school he served as the Director of the Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Program, a student-run clinic providing pro bono legal representation before the United States Supreme Court. Prior to joining the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, he clerked for the Honorable Mary Grace Diehl, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

NACBA Awards the 2016 Henry J. Sommer Scholarship

The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys is pleased to announce that the coveted Henry J. Sommer Scholarship for the 2016 Annual NACBA’s Annual Convention (May 19-22, 2016, San Francisco, CA) has been awarded to Grace B. Pazdan, Consumer Rights Attorney with Vermont Legal Aid. This prestigious scholarship, which covers registration fees and materials, was created in recognition of the extraordinary contributions to NACBA by President Emeritus Henry J. Sommer (Board of Directors 1992 to 2011 and President 2005 to 2008). Ms. Pazdan was chosen from a vast field of accomplished consumer bankruptcy attorneys.

NACBA Executive Director, Dan LaBert said, “We applaud Ms. Pazdan on her many impressive achievements and dedication to serving low-income, elderly and disabled consumers facing foreclosure and debt collection. We are very happy to provide her the opportunity and resources to help elevate her bankruptcy practice.”

Ms. Pazdan graduated summa cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law in 2006. During her law school years, She was a 2005 Equal Justice Foundation Summer Fellowship Recipient, the 2005 Choice USA Generation Award, Legal Rights Award Recipient and a recipient of the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Foundation Scholarship along with being the President of the Woman’s Law Association and Co-Director of Law Students for Choice. In 2008, she served for two years as the first Vermont Poverty Law Fellow, based at VLA where she drafted and advocated for legislation that resulted in Vermont enacting a mediation program for homeowners facing foreclosure. Currently, Ms. Pazdan is the only legal services attorney in the state of Vermont that provides free representation in bankruptcy court for low income Vermonters.

A summary of Ms. Pazdan’s convention experience will be published in the Summer 2016 edition of NACBA’s Consumer Bankruptcy Journal.

#NACBASF#

Bankruptcy News Briefs 3/17

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62 DAYS UNTIL #NACBASF!

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DEADLINE FOR THE HENRY J. SOMMER LEGAL AID SCHOLARSHIP TOMORROW MARCH 18TH

One scholarship is available to a legal aid attorney who attends the Convention and is a first-time attendee at an NACBA educational program. This scholarship has been created in recognition of the extraordinary contributions to NACBA by President Emeritus Henry J. Sommer, who served on NACBA’s Board from 1992 to 2011 and as President from 2005 to 2008. The scholarship covers the registration fee and materials for the Convention. Interested candidates should submit by email a cover letter and resume to admin@NACBA.org no later than Friday, March 18, 2016.

EXHIBITOR AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

NACBASF and NACBA’s Fall Workshop Summit is the perfect opportunity to be an exhibitor or sponsor to showcase your product. Learn more about how you can participate in the 2016 Prospectus.

VACATION AND EDUCATION!

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Why not mix a little work with a little play! Earn CLE while you have some fun at NACBA’s Fall Workshop Summit at Sea, October 7th-10th, 2016. The location might be unexpected, but the education provided aboard will be what NACBA members have come to expect from our educational programs. Save the Date and come sail away with NACBA!

KEEP YOUR NACBA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

With so many exciting educational events and networking opportunities on the horizon in 2016 don’t forget to renew your NACBA Membership! Renew Today!

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Henry J. Sommer Legal Aid Scholarship

Apply Today for the Henry J. Sommer Legal Aid Scholarship

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One scholarship is available to a legal aid attorney who attends the 2016 NACBA San Francisco Convention and is a first-time attendee at an NACBA educational program. This scholarship has been created in recognition of the extraordinary contributions to NACBA by President Emeritus Henry J. Sommer, who served on NACBA’s Board from 1992 to 2011 and as President from 2005 to 2008. The scholarship covers the registration fee and materials for the Convention.

Interested candidates should submit by email a cover letter and resume to admin@NACBA.org no later than Friday, March 18, 2016.