Ben F. Johnson Jr. Public Service Award 2012

Retired Atlanta attorney Randall L. Hughes has been awarded the Ben F. Johnson Jr. Public Service Award by Georgia State University College of Law.

The award is presented annually to a Georgia lawyer whose life and career reflects the high tradition of selfless public service that founding dean, Ben F. Johnson Jr., exemplified during his career.

“Randy is most deserving of this Award.  During his distinguished legal career, Randy always found ways to make special contributions to pro bono efforts and other meaningful community projects,” said Tom McNeill, Bryan Cave’s Atlanta Managing Partner.  “His service has been an inspiration to many lawyers who have worked with him.”

Hughes served as a partner with Bryan Cave Powell Goldstein and as the head of the Atlanta health care group for several years before his retirement. He also handled several important matters as a special assistant attorney general to the State of Georgia.

Hughes is a faculty fellow with the Center for Law, Health & Society and an adjunct faculty member with Georgia State University’s College of Law. At the law school, he participates in the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) and the HeLP Legal Services Clinic. The HeLP Legal Services Clinic regularly partners with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Atlanta Legal Aid to provide legal services to low-income families. For almost 40 years, Hughes also has been a volunteer with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, assisting with projects that serve the elderly, sick children, AIDS and cancer patients and their families. Over time, he has served in multiple leadership positions with the society. In 2010, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society honored Hughes as the first recipient and namesake of the Randall L. Hughes Lifetime Commitment to Legal Services Award. Other service awards he has earned include the State Bar of Georgia’s H. Sol Clark Pro Bono Award in 2010 and the Falcons Community Quarterback Award in 2011 for leadership and dedication to bettering his community.

The Ben F. Johnson Jr. Public Service Award has been granted annually since 1994. Hughes is the second attorney from Bryan Cave to receive this award (John T. Marshall was honored in 2007), presented to him March 22nd at a special reception held in the Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom.