Vikram Swaruup, the executive director of Legal Aid DC, facilitated the 34th annual Servant of Justice Award Dinner on April 9 at the JW Marriott hotel in Northwest in front of scores of people.
Former U.S. Commission on Civil Rights member Debo P. Adegbile as one of the honorees.
The event served as a fundraiser for Legal Aid DC, which helps indigent and working-class District residents in civil matters such as family law, affordable housing and eviction prevention, public benefits and consumer law, immigration, and appellate advocacy.
Swaruup expressed pride in his co-workers at Legal Aid DC.
“As I conclude my first year as executive director of this more than 90-year-old organization, I am proud that we get to share some of what we accomplished–and the stories of some of the brave clients we worked with along the way–with you tonight,” he said. “I’m particularly proud of the more than 100 people who actually do this hard work alongside our clients: my wonderful Legal Aid colleagues… I have seen first-hand their dedication to their work, sheer legal ability, and commitment to making our city a fairer place.”
Swaruup said the organization accepted 1,300 cases for full representation, a 16% increase from 2022. He noted that within the first three months of this year, “we have accepted 76% more cases than the same time period in 2023.” Swaruup said between the relaunch of the walk-in intake center in Northwest and community office in the Anacostia neighborhood of Southeast has generated nearly 4,750 clients, a 22% increase from 2022.
However, Swaruup said that the budget District Mayor Muriel Bowser recently submitted to the D.C. Council is not kind to his organization.
“That’s because just last week the mayor proposed a 67% cut to legal services in her budget for next year,” he said. “Sadly, this has become an annual fight for basic funding we need to serve our clients.”
Swaruup said the D.C. government “faces a genuinely challenging budget environment.”
“But we should not–and cannot–be a city that balances its budget by taking housing, food, or the ability to get a lawyer away from people living in poverty.”
Adegbile, who works as a partner with WilmerHale and has served as acting president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, was pleased to receive one of the two Servant of Justice Awards.
“It is such a magnificent honor tonight to be able to live up to the mission of: Legal Aid DC,” he said. “You give hope, make lives more tolerable and full. You replace despair with feelings of empowerment. You stand boldly and bravely in cases where advocacy is very hard, and resources are very slim. We all thank you and are inspired by your example.”
Former D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David S. Tatel also received the Servant of Justice Award. Attorney Nancy Anderson got the Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence and client Magnolia Alvarez Velasquez received The Partnership Award.
D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and former D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine attended the event.