Duane Morris LLP attorney Meghan E. Claiborne has been honored with the Sean Peretta Service Award by the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Claiborne was recognized for her efforts as co-chair of the YLD’s expungement project, which helps former convicts “restart” their lives and careers with unblemished criminal records. The project hosted six clinics throughout Philadelphia to help prepare petitions under Act 5—a new Pennsylvania law that provides for the sealing of convictions for less serious offenses if an individual has been conviction-free for 10 years. The six clinics were staffed by over 175 lawyer, paralegal and law student volunteers and saw more than 700 people in need. John Coyle, co-chair of the YLD and a deputy city solicitor, and Jamie Gullen, an attorney at Community Legal Services, also received the award at the YLD Annual Holiday Party held on November 30.

The Sean Peretta Service Award is given annually to a member of the legal community who exhibits exceptional community service

Claiborne, 30, practices in the area of litigation. She is a 2013 graduate, with honors, of Emory University School of Law, where she was co-founder of the Emory Corporate Governance and Accountability Review, and a graduate, with honors, of the University of Georgia.

About the Duane Morris Pro Bono Program

Duane Morris’ Pro Bono Program provides free legal services to those in our communities least able to afford them. The importance of pro bono work and volunteerism has been an integral part of Duane Morris’ culture and a backbone of our value system since the firm’s inception more than 110 years ago.

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Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 750 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries.