James E. Duggan and Bruce E. Friedman Remembered as Steadfast Advocates for the Disenfranchised

In her opening remarks during the recent Celebration of Public Service at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, Justice Jacalyn Colburn described Bruce E. Friedman and James E. Duggan as representing two sides of the same coin:  :"Jim was on the criminal side; Bruce was on the civil side. Both were incredibly dedicated to public service, especially to benefit the disenfranchised, both were dedicated to educating generations of like-minded future advocates, and both were dedicated to our precious rule of law.."

Hon. Jacalyn A. Colburn, Senior Justice, NH Superior Court

In the room that evening were several "like-minded advocates," including David M. Stamatis of Parnell, Michels & McKay, PLLC, who received the13th Annual Pro Bono Bruce E. Friedman Award, and Katie Burrows, 3L student, the first recipient of the Professor James E. Duggan Scholarship. 

The Duggan Scholarship, established to honor Professor Duggan’s memory, provides financial support to 3Ls planning careers as public defenders.   Read more about Jim Duggan here.. 

Ellen Musinsky, Director of Development for the law school thanked the lead sponsors who contributed to the Duggan Scholarship fund, which is now endowed, and she asked for more contributions to help fund more scholarships, including the Duggan and Friedman Scholarships, and the Rudman Summer Fellowship Program.. Visit here for information on how to donate to these funds

Katie Burrows, recipient of the James E. Duggan Scholarship

Thankfully, the biggest growth in our student body is students who are coming to our school, hoping to practice to criminal law. Providing scholarship is critical to all our students, and especially to those going into public interest careers. I love that we are honoring Jim by having an endowed fund in his name. I also know he was a really humble guy, so I'm just going to say the fund really is not so much about him but about his legacy of encouraging our grads to consider criminal defense as a career when they're leaving law school and so that we can help as many of them as we can, bridging their need for income as they're finishing the third year.                         -- Ellen Musinsky

The Annual Bruce E. Friedman Pro Bono Award honors a UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law graduate and member of the New Hampshire Bar who exemplifies Bruce Friedman’s commitment to representing the indigent through exemplary pro bono service. The award is sponsored by The Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership & Public Service and 603 Legal Aid.

Attorney Rory Parnell presented his colleague David Stamatis with the Friedman award, praising him for his dedication, his candor, and modesty. Stamatis has worked almost 300 pro bono hours since he became an attorney in 2016, Parnell said. Since, 2020, he has been in the top 12 in total hours donated. 

David Stamatis and Rory Parnell

He does it because it's the right thing to do. People need help.  He helps them. He doesn't ask for anything in return. He does not seek out anything. He just does it because it's the right thing to do.        -- Rory Parnell

 

After accepting his award, Stamatis described pro bono work as profoundly satisfying, calling it the most important and rewarding work an attorney can do. And too few do it, he said.   

David Stamatis, recipient of the 13th Annual Bruce E. Friedman Pro Bono Award 

Listen to what people are telling you. Have a conversation with them. Lawyers are trained to think: I've got to solve this problem. But people aren't puzzles. You can't really solve them. You can be an effective practitioner while showing compassion. You can demonstrate empathy without sacrificing your skills as a lawyer. If this award stands for anything, it stands for the principle that you can give exemplary service without the need to be paid to do it. Indeed, I’d argue that doing pro bono work makes you a better lawyer.      

                                                       --- David Stamatis 

"I can only barely describe the feeling of wellness that boils up in my chest when I'm able to help someone," Stamatis said. "It gives you a high and you keep chasing it, and it's almost doubly so when it's somebody that you know really need the help and that wouldn't have succeeded without you."