The Greensboro Bar Association’s 2020 Pro Bono Award was presented to Manisha P. Patel at the virtual member meeting on November 19, 2020.
Manisha is well deserving of this award. Last year, she was named the North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Pro Bono Attorney of the Year at the 2019 NCBA Annual Meeting. She was selected for the NCBA award because of her significant pro bono service through Legal Aid of North Carolina, the North Carolina Justice Center and the power of attorney clinics for immigrant residents, and service in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s signature pro bono programs, Free Legal Answers and 4ALL. Manisha is also a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for Guilford County where she provides support and assistance to some of the state’s most vulnerable children. In addition to maintaining her solo law practice, she gives substantial time to pro bono clients and programs throughout North Carolina. She is also working with Legal Aid of North Carolina to develop a mediation program for Landlord-Tenant disputes.
Manisha is currently the chair of the GBA’s Pro Bono Committee and has been in that role for several years. She is always promoting pro bono service among the local bar. She and her committee present the Herb Falk Society awards to recipients each year. Last year Manisha was inducted into the HFS after logging over 650 hours of pro bono service
in 2019!
Manisha is in her second term as President of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys (“NCAWA”). Patel was selected for this leadership position after serving in her roles of Education Committee Chair, Secretary, Vice-President, and President-Elect. Manisha also served as President of the local chapter of NCAWA, Piedmont Triad Women Attorneys for 2016 and 2017.
Manisha earned her Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees in both economics and history from Virginia Tech University. With a focus on family law, Patel started her solo practice in November 2018 after spending over six years in private practice. Manisha offers compassionate legal counsel and support to family law clients during emotionally stressful transitions and difficult life situations.
We are proud to recognize Manisha’s outstanding service.