Susie Hoffman Receives the Washington Council of Lawyer’s Presidents Award for Being “A Real-Life Hero”

Washington – December 3, 2021: The Washington Council of Lawyers presented Crowell & Moring public service partner Susan M. Hoffman with the Presidents Award for Public Service at a ceremony on December 2, 2021. The award recognizes Hoffman’s dedication to public service and pro bono causes over the past three decades.

During the presentation of the award, Nicole Austin-Hillery, executive director of the U.S. Program at Human Rights Watch, remarked that Hoffman, “epitomizes what a true hero is,” and described her as “a real-life hero,” someone who “steps up, stands out, and walks the walk.”

“Susie Hoffman is the quintessential recipient of the Presidents Award, which makes it especially appropriate that this honor is awarded to her during our 50th anniversary year,” Nancy Lopez, former executive director of WCL, and Larry Schneider, current WCL board member and former president, wrote in November when announcing the award. “She is wicked smart, phenomenally kind, passionate, dedicated, and always willing to lend a hand. She is a trailblazer, mentor, and leader in the public-interest community. She soars among legal luminaries. But she is also down-to-earth, practical, and willing to roll up her sleeves, represent individual clients, and do the work of building a strong public-interest community in DC. For all of these reasons, we are pleased to recognize Susie as our 2021 Presidents Award recipient.”

Hoffman became the nation’s first pro bono counsel in 1988 when she joined Crowell & Moring. She oversees the firm’s award-winning pro bono work, which ranges from representation of the homeless, immigrants, and indigent criminal defendants to assisting domestic violence victims in obtaining protection orders to racial justice and other “impact” appellate litigation. Hoffman has held numerous leadership positions with the D.C. Bar, including the role of president from 2019-2020, as well as other legal services organizations, and other community nonprofits. She serves on the board of directors for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and Washington Council of Lawyers and is founding board chair of the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Advocacy Project. In addition, she has served in leadership roles with the American Bar Association, D.C. Bar Foundation, and Legal Counsel for the Elderly, among others.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the Presidents Award for Public Service, as it gives me the opportunity to share how important pro bono work is for the communities we serve, especially during the pandemic,” Hoffman said. “I have been blessed to be surrounded by stellar lawyers across the many organizations I work with, including at Crowell & Moring, the D.C. Bar, and the Washington Council of Lawyers, and I thank them all for their work and the support that has led to this award.”

To read more about Hoffman and her award, as well as to register for the virtual award ceremony, visit here.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.