Teodora Purcell will be named “Attorney of the Year” by Casa Cornelia Law Center, at the organization’s Eight Annual La Mancha Awards to be held on October 15 at the University of San Diego. Casa Cornelia Law Center is a San Diego nonprofit that provides legal assistance to victims of human and civil rights violations.
Ms. Purcell will be recognized for providing pro bono legal services to Casa Cornelia’s indigent clients, who have come to the United States from Mexico, Latin America, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, China, and other countries around the world.
Much of the work for Casa Cornelia involves unaccompanied children, asylum cases, U visa, and VAWA cases under the Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), with Fragomen attorneys assisting indigent victims of persecution, domestic violence or other crimes who are protected under the U.S. immigration laws.
“The cases we handle tend to be legally complex, time-intensive and difficult to prove,” said Ms. Purcell. “Although such cases can be heartbreaking, they are very rewarding. It’s satisfying to know we are truly helping people in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.”
Ms. Purcell’s honor is one of three major “La Mancha” awards bestowed by the nonprofit. In 2014, Fragomen was named the “Law Firm of the Year. “
Ms. Purcell also received the California State Bar Association’s Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal services in 2011 and 2013 and the Casa Cornelia Pro Bono Publico Award in 2011.