NEW YORK — An law school student who founded a program to help veterans, a recently confirmed federal judge who volunteered hundreds of hours to addressing wrongful convictions and a New York City law firm that donated more than 37,000 hours of pro bono services are among the 22 winners of the New York State Bar Association's 2012 President's Pro Bono Service Awards.
 

The awards were presented at the Law Day luncheon yesterday at the State Bar Center in Albany. State Bar President Vincent E. Doyle III presided over this year's ceremony along with President-Elect Seymour W. James, Jr. of The Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn. 
 

"The work of pro bono service attorneys makes 'justice for all' a reality for New Yorkers.” Doyle said. “Whether they are a solo practitioner or work in a large law firm, every lawyer can help solve someone else's problem." 
 

In addition to honoring attorneys representing all of New York's 13 judicial districts, the awards are given to a lawyer practicing for less than 10 years or under the age of 36, a senior lawyer, a large law firm, a mid-size law firm, a small law firm, an in-house counsel, a government counsel, a law student and a law school group.
 

In Brooklyn, the 2nd Judicial District, the winner was:
 

Weil Advantage Team, of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which served as co-counsel with The Legal Aid Society to prevent New York City from terminating the Advantage rent subsidy program for 16,000 households. Because of the Weil Advantage Team's advocacy, the Advantage tenants received subsidies from April 2011 to January 2012, totaling more than $115 million.