On March 10, 2010, Philadelphia Legal Recruiter SMR Legal Search sponsored the Philadelphia VIP Award Ceremony and Reception. Philadelphia VIP is a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance in civil matters to Philadelphia residents who cannot afford to pay for an attorney.

Each year, Philadelphia VIP gives out awards to those in the Philadelphia legal community whom they feel have done the most to provide free legal assistance to Philadelphia's poor through this program. This year's ceremony and reception took place at Philadelphia City Hall on March 10, 2010.

Among those in the Philadelphia legal community receiving awards this year were Cheryl Jacobs, Fox Rothschild, LLP, The Beasley Firm and Willig, Williamson & Davidson who received the Brennan Award. The following Philadelphia law firms received the Chancellor's Award: Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP, Berger & Montague, P.C., Berner Klaw & Watson, LLP, Blank Rome, LLP, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.S., Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, LLC, Dechert, LLP, Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig, Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C., Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin, Kovler & Rush, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP, Pepper Hamilton, LLP, Reilly Janiczek & McDevitt, P.C., Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd., Shrager Spivey & Sachs, Smith Horwitz, Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, P.C. and White and Williams, LLP.

The Individuals' Award went to Alfonso Madrid, Andrew Albergo, Barry Penn, Clark Pease, Colleen Coonelly, Dean Babler, Dean Weisgold, Deeya Haldar, Donald Parman, George Xanthoudakis, Greg Schell, Herbert Weiman, Ilya Lipin, Marjorie Greenfield, Mark Allen Taylor, Mikd Stosic, Miriam Jacobson, Robert Cocco, Samantha Dalton, Shanese Johnson, Stanely Askin, Susan Givson, Susan Wallack, Tejal Mehta, Terri Malenfant, and Tonya Williams.

The Corporate Pro Bono Award was presented to Sunoco. The winners of the Business Recognition Awards were Aracor, First American Title Company, Furia Rubel, and the Legal Intelligencer. The Legal Services Award was presented to Robert Lukens of Philadelphia Legal Assistance. The VIPeoples Choice Awards were given to Craig Sopin, Edward Hayes, Gilbert Marquez and Kevin Gilboy.

In these difficult economic times where so many law firms and companies are doing less with more and justifiably worried about their bottom line, it is very impressive to see these attorneys, law firms and companies unselfishly giving of their time to help those less fortunate.

Likewise, Philadelphia Legal Recruiter SMR Legal Search is committed to helping those less fortunate than them. Legal Recruiters Susan Rubinovitz and Stephanie Ristvey of SMR Legal Search are both firm believers in the adage "to whom much is given much should be given back." SMR Legal Search has supported many worthwhile organizations in addition to Philadelphia VIP, such as the Support Center for Child Advocates, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Work to Ride, just to name a few. In addition both Susan and Stephanie engage in community service throughout the community.