The Simone Lottor Exceptional Service Award was created in 2001 by Sandy Lottor and his family in memory of Simone Lottor, who for many years was a dedicated JF&CS volunteer. This year's recipient is Andrew Cornell. The depth of Andrew's volunteerism for Journey to Safety has made him a superb choice for the award.
Andrew provides a unique and invaluable service for JF&CS as the Volunteer Mentor Attorney for Journey to Safety's (JTS) Reduced Fee Legal Service (RFLS). With grant funding, JTS provides free legal services to survivors of domestic abuse in family law cases, which often present with urgent needs. A panel of private attorneys represent our clients at a reduced-fee. Andrew volunteers his expertise to mentor and supervise these attorneys. The panel is comprised of newer attorneys who are eager for mentoring. With Andrew's guidance, the panel assists JTS clients (all survivors of domestic abuse) in high stake cases with complex legal needs.
Andrew has practiced family law since 1994, concentrating on representing victims of domestic abuse in complex family law cases. He was awarded the Adams Pro Bono Publico Award by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in 2009. He also received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Boston Bar Association in 2005 and the Pro Bono Publico Award from the Massachusetts Bar Association in 2003.
Andrew is an adjunct professor at New England Law and was recently a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School. In addition to his teaching and private practice, Andrew has been a volunteer attorney and mentor for Community Legal Services and Counseling Center in Cambridge, MA as well as mentoring attorneys for the Women's Bar Foundation.
Andrew lives in Arlington with his wife, Francesca, a medical writer. They enjoy their occasional visits from their daughters, Kate and Emma.