The Board of Directors, under the courageous leadership of Patricia M. Hynes, worked throughout the year to accomplish a restructuring of The Legal Aid Society’s finances and management. In the midst of the financial crisis, the Board of Directors appointed Steven Banks, a widely respected advocate and one of the best known poverty lawyers in the country, as the Attorney-in-Chief. During the course of the year, the staff was reduced by 221 positions and all segments of the staff—managers and non-union staff and members of Legal Aid’s ALAA and 1199 unions made extraordinary sacrifices to ensure the future of the organization. The City of New York and the City Council provided an essential $11 million infusion. During the last days of the year, the New York City law firms contributed $9.4 million to address Legal Aid’s balance sheet debts, thereby averting a bankruptcy filing and achieving a major financial turnaround.