DiMare honored by National Legal Aid & Defender Association

 

Charles DiMare, director of Student Legal Services, received the Elizabeth Berg Streeter Community Service Award during the 35th annual National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) conference held July 16-21 in Burlington, Vt.

 

The award recognizes excellence in service to the legal community, social justice and equality.

 

DiMare has been the director of the Student Legal Services Office since 1980 after starting there as a staff attorney in 1979. He serves on several university and statewide policy committees and is an elected member of the Alumni Association’s board of directors. He is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education, teaching courses in higher education law, and was a visiting professor at the Vermont Law School and Northeastern University graduate criminal justice program, teaching courses in law enforcement civil liability and policy development. In May 2011, he was invited to lecture at Beihang University School of Law in Beijing, where he gave presentations on Student Legal Services and providing legal assistance to those in need at the university. Last month, DiMare hosted a visit by three scholars from the Beihang University School of Law who also spoke at the NLADA conference.

 

In 2010, DiMare was responsible for creating a detailed analysis of the University of Michigan peer review process. His ability to focus on detail assisted the program in gaining positive recognition from the administration and additional funding from the students.

 

DiMare is a frequent contributor and lecturer at NLADA national conferences. He recently oversaw a committee of student legal services attorneys in developing standards of practice for SLS offices to be approved by the Council for Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.

 

“I’m honored and particularly thankful to my present staff at the Student Legal Services Office as well as all the exceptional staff members who have assisted me over the years,” DiMare said. “I’m also grateful to many members of the University of Massachusetts Amherst administration, students, faculty and staff and the NLADA/Student Legal Services Network. I would not have received this award without the help and support of many people.”