4/15/24: Ed Harnden Advocates for Legal Aid Services in Oregon for the 30th Year

April 15, 2024

Barran Liebman is proud to share that Ed Harnden, Co-Managing Partner, has just returned from Washington D.C. after his annual trip dedicated to advocating for Oregon legal aid services.  For a remarkable 30 years, Ed has been making this trip to Washington D.C. to speak with our elected officials in support of increased funding for legal services, which channels money from Congress to local offices that provide civil legal services to eligible low-income Americans.

This year, Ed traveled to Washington D.C. along with Monica Goracke (Executive Director at Oregon Law Center), Susan Grabe (Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer at the Oregon State Bar), Lee Ann Donaldson (Immediate Past-President of the Oregon State Bar and attorney at Nichols Law Group LLC), and Ayla Ercin (Executive Director at the Lawyers’ Campaign for Equal Justice).  After meeting with Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives including Suzanne Bonamici, Cliff Bentz, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, and Earl Blumenauer, Ed and his fellow advocates proudly secured an agreement to sign a “Dear Colleague” letter to all of the 430 Representatives and 100 Senators in support of legal aid funding for $566 million.  With a well-received presentation on Oregon’s existing legal aid offices and the further potential to help low-income Oregonians navigate the legal system, Ed was honored to share his perspectives in support of this important cause.

Whether through his own legal practice or his many accompanying efforts to advance legislative priorities in support of legal aid, Barran Liebman is proud of the outstanding contributions Ed makes to our justice system.