Public Employee Press

DC 37 legal service marks Law Day

Supervising Judge Edwina Richardson Mendelson speaks at DC 37.

DC 37’s Municipal Employees Legal Services, the largest single union legal services plan office in the country, celebrated Law Day at union headquarters on June 4. The afternoon affair acknowledged the excellent legal services provided by DC 37 lawyers and legal assistants.

“Our lawyers and those at the Professional Employees Legal Services and the General Counsel’s Office work tirelessly to provide top-notch legal representation to our members,” said MELS Director and Chief Counsel Joan Beranbaum. “Law Day honors the work they do throughout the year.”

Henry Garrido, DC 37 assistant associate director, spoke on behalf of DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “This is one of the union’s services that Lillian is most proud of,” he said. “You can’t carry out the mission of justice without the right people, and MELS has the right people.”

“I hope you will continue to be inspired and to do your work with passion and creativity,” said guest speaker Edwina Richardson Mendelson, supervising judge at Queens Family Court.

Law Day was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to celebrate the country’s heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law. Eisenhower also sought to counter balance what was then the biggest day on the socialist and labor calendar, May 1.

Throughout most of the world May 1 is still known as Labor Day or International Workers’ Day and is commemorated with parades to honor working men and women.