Lawyers dedicated to community legal service and legal education, pro bono work and the promotion of social and economic rights for the disadvantaged were among those awarded the 2007 Law Society Medal and the 2007 Lincoln Alexander Award. Law Society Treasurer Gavin MacKenzie will present the prestigious awards at a special ceremony at Osgoode Hall on April 26, 2007.

The Law Society Medal, established in 1985, recognizes outstanding Ontario lawyers whose service reflects the highest ideals of the profession. This year's Law Society Medal (LSM) recipients are:Â Rodney Hull, Q.C., of Toronto; Professor Martha Jackman of Ottawa; Angus L. McKenzie, Q.C., of London; Claude M.V. Pensa, Q.C., of London; and Reuben M. Rosenblatt, Q.C., of Toronto.

The Lincoln Alexander Award recognizes one Ontario lawyer who has demonstrated a commitment to the public and its well being through community service. The award was created in 2002 in honour of former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Member of Parliament and Law Society Medal recipient The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, P.C., C.C., O. Ont., Q.C., LSM, to reward his dedication to the people of Ontario and the legal community. This year's Lincoln Alexander Award recipient is Roger Rowe of Toronto.

"The Law Society is pleased to honour these accomplished members of the legal profession for their stellar representation of the profession and for their tireless commitment to advancing the cause of justice," said Treasurer MacKenzie. "These awards are bestowed only upon lawyers deemed by their peers to be exceptional role models for the profession."

2007 Lincoln Alexander Award winner:

Roger Rowe, Toronto:Called to the Ontario Bar in 1989, Mr. Rowe's deep-rooted devotion to public service began while he was still a student at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he served as Community Advocacy Division Leader at the student legal aid office. His work included public legal education and outreach to members of equity seeking groups. Rowe's dedication to helping those in his local community grew to be the defining factor of his career, which he began at Jane Finch Community Legal Services, as a staff lawyer focussing on poverty law. Rowe appeared as counsel for Mavis Baker in the landmark case of Baker vs. Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration at the Supreme Court of Canada, a case that set a new standard for procedural fairness in Administrative Law. He is a co-founder of the Canadian Association for Black Lawyers (CABL), a group dedicated to promoting legal and social justice and was recently honoured with the CABL Award of Excellence for Advancement of the Profession. Mr. Rowe is perhaps best known for his work with the grass-roots community organization PEACH (Promoting Economic Action and Community Health), where, among other accomplishments, he established a Wraparound program to provide year-long support for young people through community-based support teams. His work for PEACH has received the attention of the Toronto Sun, the Ontario Lawyers Gazette and the Globe and Mail. Mr. Rowe is the recipient of a number of awards, including the inaugural award from Pro Bono Law Ontario for community service. Mr. Rowe currently practises as a sole practitioner.