Jacksonville Area Legal Aid staff attorney Lynn Drysdale received the 2016 Jane Elizabeth Curran Distinguished Service Award for achieving impactful results for thousands of clients affected by predatory lending and other unethical, illegal and unscrupulous practices, for protecting the rights of homeowners, and for providing testimony to legislative and other government bodies in an effort to reform industries that trap Americans in a cycle of poverty.
“It is truly an honor to be mentioned in the same breath as Jane Curran,” Drysdale said. “It is hard to think of anyone in the country who has done more for legal services and our client community than Ms. Curran.”
Named for the Foundation’s first executive director, the award recognizes individuals who, over their careers, have achieved meaningful, effective and lasting increases in access to civil justice for the poor in Florida. Drysdale is the first recipient since Curran received the inaugural award in 2015. This year’s award was presented by outgoing Foundation President Donny MacKenzie, a partner with Holland & Knight, which sponsored the Curran Award.
“She has leveled the playing field for thousands of folks backed up against the proverbial wall, and she has made significant, meaningful and positive differences in the lives of many,” MacKenzie said. “The virtues we celebrate and the ideas expressed in this award are embodied in this remarkable person.”
Focusing on consumer protection advocacy, such as abuses in the payday lending industry, Drysdale is nationally recognized for her expertise in foreclosure defense and regularly testifies before the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, speaking on behalf of consumers and homeowners.
“Lynn Drysdale is an exemplary lawyer who has chosen to dedicate her legal career to the service of others. She is focused, compassionate, and a formidable advocate for those less fortunate,” said Jim Kowalski, president and CEO of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. “We are very proud of Lynn, and honored the Foundation chose her to receive this award.”
