York, Pa. – Barley Snyder is pleased to announce that the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC) has recognized the firm with the 2023 Light of Liberty Law Firm of the Year Award. The Light of Liberty event is an annual celebration hosted by PIRC to recognize individuals and organizations that have furthered the organization’s mission. 

The PIRC, based in York, Pa., provides free legal services and education to help immigrants obtain or protect their legal status. The firm has been associated with the nonprofit organization for nearly three decades by providing pro bono legal services to vulnerable immigrants in Central Pennsylvania, expanding to provide assistance throughout the state. PIRC was originally established largely as a result of the community's response to the indefinite detention of asylum seekers in York County which occurred in 1993. These events spurred a pro bono immigration project which became nationally known as the “Golden Venture” and was spearheaded by Managing Partner Jeff Lobach, then president of the York County Bar Association. 

“We are very proud that our firm has been recognized with this prestigious award from an organization that has become a highly effective crusader for refugee rights,” said Lobach. “We are honored to have been involved with the PIRC continuously since its inception. During this time, we have been gratified and humbled to help PIRC change the lives of so many deserving individuals. Our firm thanks PIRC for recognizing Barley Snyder’s devotion to providing access to justice through its initiatives.” 

PIRC Development Director Elizabeth Miller stated that the firm was chosen for the award based on its ongoing pro bono work and commitment to advocating for immigrants, most recently with pro bono efforts to assist immigrant survivors of violence in Pennsylvania. In 2021, Partner David Freedman spearheaded a statewide effort to push courts to adjudicate U visa cases that have been backlogged for years. Several Barley Snyder attorneys volunteered their time which resulted in dozens of immigrants receiving their U visa approvals, thus providing them protection from deportation and a path to legal, permanent residency. 

“In the past ten years, the PIRC Light of Liberty Awards Reception has grown alongside the nonprofit, encompassing communities across the state. Throughout PIRC’s history, Barley Snyder has been an incredible partner, providing critical pro bono services to the immigrant community, stabilizing lives and providing hope,” said Miller. “We are grateful to honor the firm in this way. Through PIRC’s 25-plus year history, the organization has continually been inspired by pro bono efforts led by attorneys, such as Jeff Lobach, at Barley Snyder.” 

Barley Snyder was recognized with the award at a celebration held on September 20 at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. The evening featured a keynote address from Governor Josh Shapiro’s Secretary of Policy and Planning, Akbar Hossain. 

About Barley Snyder

Barley Snyder is a law firm based in Pennsylvania with more than 130 attorneys practicing from offices located in Lancaster, York, Reading, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Malvern, Hanover, Gettysburg, Wyomissing and Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and Hunt Valley and Columbia, Md. The firm serves businesses, individuals and organizations in all major areas of civil law including business, employment, immigration, employee benefits, finance & creditors’ rights, intellectual property, litigation, estate planning and administration, real estate, tax, construction, environment and energy, health care, education, municipal authority, hospitality, senior living, cybersecurity and food and agribusiness. www.barley.com | @BarleySnyder