FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HANCOCK ATTORNEY RECEIVES STATE BAR RECOGNITION FOR INTERNET WORK

Albany, New York --Hancock attorney, Leonard E. Sienko, Jr., was honored today by the Electronic Communications Task Force (ECTF) of the New York State Bar Association. Sienko received the "Mouse That Roared Award" in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment towards the State Bar Internet Initiative.

State Bar President Joshua M. Pruzansky was present at a dinner meeting at the State Bar Headquarters in Albany as ECTF Chair Joseph Birmingham honored Sienko and three other ECTF members with commemorative plaques for their assistance in developing the State Bar's Internet site and services. Sienko has served for two years on the ECTF, an eighteen-lawyer task force which advises the State Bar Association on delivering electronic services to its members and the public. He is also a charter member of the ECTF's predecessor, the NYLaw Net Committee.

A former Delaware County Bar Association President, Sienko been engaged in the general practice of law from his office in Hancock for the last 19 years. One of only two sole practitioners on the ECTF, Sienko is well-known in local bar circles for his use of the Internet for legal research. The Sienko Law Office was the first law office in Delaware County to have an on-line presence with its own homepage. Sienko also designed and maintains a world wide web page for the Delaware County Bar Association.

Sienko says: "Four years ago the NYLaw Net committee had a goal to electronically connect lawyers, the courts, and the public. I'm proud to have played a small role in realizing that goal. With ECTF's help, our state bar web site now contains more than two thousand (2000) pages of legal information and links for our members and the public. We invite everyone to use the site at http://www.nysba.org. "