LAGUNA BEACH : City Attorney’s Free Services Honored

Laguna Beach City Atty. Philip D. Kohn is one of about two dozen lawyers who in the past year gave more than 150 hours of free legal services to low-income residents through the Public Law Center of Orange County.

Kohn and more than 100 other lawyers and legal workers were honored for giving at least 50 hours of free work during the 1992-93 fiscal year. Kohn contributed 171 hours.

Scott Wylie, general counsel for the Public Law Center in Santa Ana, said that only a small percentage of low-income residents who need legal assistance can get it.

“Without the kind assistance of volunteers such as Mr. Kohn, we would reach a lower level than that. By any count, 171 hours of volunteer work is an exceptional contribution of volunteer work to the community,” he said.

Laguna Beach Councilwoman Kathleen Blackburn, who learned of the honor when she attended the center’s recent fourth annual recognition dinner, passed word of Kohn’s award on to the rest of the council.

“What impressed me so was the number of pro bono (free) hours he had given over the year were much more than the minimum required for receiving that award,” Blackburn said.

Wylie said the Orange County Bar Assn. has a pro bono policy that urges attorneys to pledge at least 35 hours each year.

The State Bar of California policy asks lawyers to volunteer at least 50 hours.

Sixteen of the attorneys listed as recipients of the State Bar’s Wiley W. Manuel Award at the dinner worked more than 200 hours without pay.

Kohn works with the Costa Mesa law firm Rutan & Tucker.

The Public Law Center was formed in 1989 to provide the county’s indigent residents with legal services.