(Photo: Shannon Karam, Director of Pro Bono Services at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, presenting the award to Richard O’Meara. Credit: PTLA)
Pine Tree Legal Assistance recently awarded Portland attorney Richard O’Meara with its Pine Tree Legal Assistance Award for Pro Bono Service. O’Meara, a Partner, Chair of Education Law, and Co-Chair of Litigation & Trial Practice Groups at Murray Plumb & Murray, was presented the award at the Maine State Bar Association’s Summer Bar Conference for his service in 2023.
The Pine Tree Legal Assistance Award for Pro Bono Service is an annual award recognizing exceptional volunteer service to Pine Tree Legal Assistance and its clients.
“O’Meara devotes much of his time to improving the lives of young people with disabilities and their families, often in cases arising under special education or anti-discrimination laws,” noted Shannon Karam, Director of Pro Bono Services at Pine Tree Legal Assistance. “When we [Pine Tree] are able to place a case with Attorney O’Meara, we know that the client will get the best possible outcome for their case and will be empowered and treated with dignity and respect in the process.”
In 2023, O’Meara worked on several pro bono cases referred to him by Pine Tree’s Kids Legal and Family Law and Victims’ Rights programs and secured remarkable outcomes for youth and their families.
In presenting the award, Karam shared the story of a client who described her family’s experience working with O’Meara as “unforgettable and life-changing,” noting that he walked the family step-by-step through the complicated process of getting support for her son’s education. Previously exhausted and frustrated with school, her son’s scores doubled in 8 months after finding the proper programs and tutoring, resulting in increased confidence and belief in himself. O’Meara also supported the family in receiving financial help from the school to access these resources that helped him thrive.
O’Meara was praised for his role as a mentor to PTLA staff, attorneys, and paralegals on education law. “I’ve learned so much from him and have definitely become a better advocate because of him… He makes people he works with better,” said Pine Tree paralegal Claire Nacinovich.
