Civil Law

Pennsylvania Access-to-Justice Site is Part of National LawHelp.org Network Receiving International Honor for the Web

The The winner of the 2007 Webby Award for Best Law Website is LawHelp.org - a national network of state portals, including PALawHELP.org - that provides low and moderate income individuals with access to legal information and services. PALawHELP.org is Pennsylvania's online guide to state-based legal referrals, know-your-rights information and a variety of self-help tools.

PALawHELP.org is maintained by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. and is supported by all of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network member programs. Support for the site is also provided by many other partner organizations in Pennsylvania including the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Courts and many public interest law firms. The site was created in conjunction with Pro Bono Net, the national nonprofit leader in technology solutions to expand access to justice for those in need.

"We are honored to be singled out as creators of the top legal website, but share this award with the more than 200 legal aid, pro bono, bar and court-based access to justice partners around the county with whom we have collaborated on LawHelp," says Mark O'Brien, Executive Director of Pro Bono Net. "As a nonprofit organization committed to making information about legal rights accessible to the public and to improving outcomes for those cannot afford to hire an attorney, we are pleased that the Webby Awards recognized the innovative work of the public interest legal community with this distinction."

Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, the Webby Award is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile Websites. The awards are judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization that includes Harvey Weinstein, Arianna Huffington, Matt Groening, Jamie Oliver, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.

The 11th Annual Webby Awards received a record 8,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. LawHelp.org was one of five finalists named in the Best Law Website category. The other finalists in the Law category were: Findlaw (http://www.findlaw.org/), winner of the People's Voice Award voted on by the public; Nolo (http://www.nolo.com); Hollywood Reporter ESQ (http://www.hollywoodreporteresq.com); and Thomas (www.thomas.gov).

Special Achievement Award winners this year include:

Webby Lifetime Achievement: David Bowie
Webby Lifetime Achievement: eBay
Webby Person of the Year: Steve Chen & Chad Hurley, Co-Founders, YouTube
Webby Film & Video Awards Best Actor: Ask A Ninja
Webby Film & Video Awards Best Actress: Jessica Lee Rose (Lonelygirl15)

The winners of this year's awards will be honored at the 11th Annual Webby Awards in New York on June 5, where winners are only allowed a five-word acceptance speech.

A full-list of winners is at http://www.webbyawards.com/.