Sara Murphy Receives New Lawyer Award from Maine Justice Foundation

Maine Justice Foundation, the state’s leading funder of civil legal aid for poor and vulnerable Mainers, has recognized Pierce Atwood litigation associate Sara Murphy for her “outstanding contributions to the legal profession and public good through pro bono service.”

As a member of the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Commission, Sara assists in funding determinations for civil legal service providers to support civil legal services to persons who otherwise are not able to pay for such services. Sara was further appointed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to the Court’s Court Appointed Special Advocate Advisory Panel and takes on extensive pro bono work on behalf of guardians ad litem in child protection matters.

She has also contributed many hours of pro bono work as lead counsel in a complaint on behalf of a Maine immigrant detainee to block his transfer to another location as part of a routine practice by ICE to detain immigrants in locations with a high risk of COVID-19 infections.

Maine Justice Foundation recognizes outstanding Maine lawyers who have been practicing for fewer than 10 years, “who exemplify the ideals of increasing access to justice and make outstanding contributions to the legal profession and public good through pro bono service.”

Sara also received the firm’s 2020 Scribner Firm Impact Award in recognition for her work in helping to create Pierce Atwood’s Racial Justice Initiative, in which firm attorneys participate in combating racial inequity through civil rights litigation, expungement and record-sealing, and transactional matters.

Click here for more information on the firm's pro bono and community service activities.