AILA Presents Cyrus D. Mehta with the 2011 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award
Monday, June 13, 2011
CONTACTS:
George Tzamaras / Amanda Walkins
202-507-7649 / 202-507-7618
gtzamaras@aila.org / awalkins@aila.org
SAN DIEGO, CA - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) will award Cyrus D. Mehta, founder and managing attorney of Cyrus D. Mehta & Associates, PLLC, in New York. He is honored with the 2011 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award for his outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field. Mr. Mehta will receive the award on June 16, 2011, during AILA's Annual Conference to be held in San Diego, CA.
In addition to managing a busy law firm, Mr. Mehta is deeply committed to public service and is very interested in ensuring that immigration lawyers can reach out to the most vulnerable immigrants through pro bono projects.
Mr. Mehta has most recently been Chair of AILA's National Pro Bono Committee (2009-2011) and past Co-Chair of the AILA New York Chapter Pro Bono Committee (2007-2010). Under his leadership, AILA launched its first Annual Conference Pro Bono Clinic in San Diego, CA, in 2011. In collaboration with the New York City Bar Association, Mr. Mehta and the AILA New York City Chapter launched the New York City Immigrant Advocacy Initiative to provide brief service clinics on a regular basis. Also in partnership with the New York City Bar, Mr. Mehta and the AILA Chapter joined with Legal Aid to create the Varick Street N.Y Immigration Court project to represent detained immigrants.
Mr. Mehta also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Volunteers of Legal Services, Inc. (VOLS), whose mission is to provide pro bono civil legal services to benefit poor people in New York City. With his assistance, VOLS has expanded its pro bono efforts to reach immigrant children and their parents in the public school system.
Mr. Mehta graduated with a BA degree from St. Xavier's College, Bombay University, and subsequently obtained law degrees from Cambridge University, England (MA in Law), and Columbia Law School, New York (LL.M).
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.