Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence – 2022 Servant of Justice Awards Dinner

The Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence was created through the generosity of Martin and Arlene Klepper in order to recognize attorneys early in their careers who have made a significant volunteer contribution to the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. This year Legal Aid honors:

Matthew Cohen is a counsel in the Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation and Product Risk Management groups at Crowell & Moring. He also serves as an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for the District of Columbia, advising the District on a wide range of public policy issues. Before attending law school, Matthew worked in the Policy & Government Affairs Department of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Matthew received his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2008,cum laude, and a B.A. with distinction in all subjects from Cornell University in 2003.

Aaron Marx is a counsel in Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Group. Before joining the firm, Aaron worked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection as an attorney advisor in the Office of International Trade. He also worked for nine years as a chemical engineer in the automotive industry before attending law school.

Aaron earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2010 and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1998.

Matt and Aaron have been involved with Legal Aid’s pro bono program since 2016 and 2018 respectively. During that time, they have focused on defending tenants from eviction, taking on individual cases as well as supervising and serving as internal mentors for colleagues at their firm. Their support has been critical to Crowell & Moring’s active participation in the city-wide Housing Right to Counsel Project, which focuses on representing tenants in subsidized and other types of affordable housing.

Matt and Aaron continued to represent clients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring them to adjust to virtual court proceedings and navigate pandemic-related emergency legislation. Their commitment to their individual clients and pro bono work more generally exemplifies the spirit of the Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence.