Pro Bono at the American Bar Association
Summary - ABA Pro Bono & Public Service Awards
As of October 2009
| Sponsoring Entity | Name of Award | Type of Award | Criteria | Eligibility | Application Deadline | Contact Information | Other Information |
| Section of Business Law Pro Bono Committee | National Public Service Awards |
Crystal award to winner; certificates to those providing disting- uished service |
Dedication to the innovative development and delivery of legal services to the poor in a business context through a pro bono program | Individuals, firms, corporate legal departments | February | Section Director, 312/988-6244 | Award is presented at the Section's Spring Meeting; not open to organizations that predominantly serve the poor |
| Death Penalty Representation Project | Exceptional Service Award | Engraved crystal memorabilia | Law firms that have provided outstanding pro bono service to men and women on Death Row. Award criteria include commitment above and beyond to pro bono death penalty work through the number of death penalty cases handled; financial and hourly commitment in ratio to resources; attention devoted to the death penalty debate; significant impact on the justice system through legal victory, legislation, and/or litigation | Firms are nominated by their colleagues for their pro bono work on behalf of prisoners on Death Row. For nomination information, see http://www.abanet.org/deathpenalty/events/23anniversary/nomination.html | Late July or early August of each year |
Katie Hughes 202.662.1738 hughesk@staff.abanet.org |
Additional information about the award and the application process will be available through the Death Penalty Representation Project's website |
| General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division | Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work | Crystal award to winner and two tickets to awards program at fall meeting | This award honors an attorney, law firm, corporate legal department, government attorney office or institution in the legal profession that has made an outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged. | Attorney, law firm, corporate legal department, government attorney office or other legal institution | August | Dee Lee, 312/988-5648, LeeD@staff.abanet.org | See website for application and additional information. |
|
Govern- ment and Public Sector Lawyers Division |
Dorsey Award for Outstanding Public Defender or Legal Aid Lawyer | Plaque | Outstanding public defender or legal aid lawyer | Lawyers employed in legal aid bureaus or public defender offices | April |
Theona Salmon, 202/662-1023, salmont@ staff.abanet.org |
Award presented at Annual Meeting |
| Law Student Division | Judy M. Weightman Public Interest School of the Year Award | Plaque | Degree of campus activities such as mandatory pro bono, volunteer programs, clinics, loan forgiveness programs, etc. | ABA-accredited law schools | April | Law Student Division director, 312/988-5623 | Awarded by Division's Public Interest Committee Chair at Annual Meeting |
|
Section of Labor and Employment Law |
Frances Perkins Public Service Award |
Crystal award to recipient | The award recognizes individuals or organizations that demonstrate a significant commitment to providing pro bono legal services primarily in the areas of labor and employment law to persons of limited means or nonprofit organizations designed to address the needs of persons of limited means. | An individual nominee must be a member of the Section of Labor and Employment Law; an organization that is nominated must have at least one Section member who is employed by/associated with the nominated entity and that individual must actively participate in the pro bono project that is the subject of the nomination. | April | Section Director 312/988-5593 |
Award is presented at the Section's Summer Meeting at the ABA Annual Meeting. |
| Section of Litigation | John Minor Wisdom Public Service & Professionalism Award | Plaque | Providing access to justice for the poor, disenfranchised or other under-represented individuals or groups through direct repre- sentation or the creation of means of access | Lawyers in public interest or private practice, law firms | Nominations due to the Section in the fall (Nov.) |
Sharyne Tu 312/988-6069 tusharyne@ staff.abanet.org |
Award presented at a luncheon during the Section's Annual Conference held in April or May of each year. |
| Section of Taxation | Janet Spragens Pro Bono Award | Established to recognize one or more individuals or law firms that have provided meritorious pro bono service in the representation to low-income taxpayers. | Individuals or law firms | October 30 |
Catherine B. Engell 202 442-3425 engellc@staff.abanet.org |
See website for application and additional information | |
| Section of Tort Trial and Insurance Practice | Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Service Award | Sculpture and expenses paid to Annual Meeting | Member of section having performed pro bono service as defined by Rule 6.1(a) of the Model Rules | Section members | February |
Sonya Schroeder, 312/988-6229, Fax: 312/988-6230 schroeders@ staff.abanet.org |
The Law in Public Service Committee nominates up to three recipients each year |
| Senior Lawyers Division | John H. Pickering Award | Carved glass with personalized engraving, includes an expense-paid trip to the ABA Annual Meeting to receive the award. | The person selected to receive this award shall have demonstrated throughout his or her career outstanding legal ability; shall have compiled a distinguished record of dedicated service to the profession and the community at large; and shall have made significant contributions to the furtherance of access to justice for all. | A lawyer or judge, not necessarily a member of the American Bar Association | February 15th |
Angela A. Boykin, boykinaa@ staff.abanet.org |
Award presented at Annual Meeting at special dinner ceremony |
|
StC on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association |
Harrison Tweed Award | Plaque | Significant development or expansion of programs to increase access to civil legal services to the poor or criminal defense services to indigents | Bar associations | March |
Tamaara Piquion, 312/988-5767, piquiont@ staff.abanet.org |
Award presented at Annual Meeting |
| StC on Delivery of Legal Services | Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access | Plaque | Programs that improve the delivery of legal services to moderate and working poor people | Open | December |
Will Hornsby, 312/988-5761, whornsby@ staff.abanet.org |
Award presented at Midyear Meeting. |
| StC on Pro Bono and Public Service | Pro Bono Publico Awards | Artwork made of crystal | Outstanding contributions in pro bono work | Individual attorneys, law firms or corporate legal departments | February | Meaghan Cotter Sherer, 312/988-5756, | Up to five awards given annually |
| Young Lawyers Division | Awards of Achievement (AOA) Competition | Plaques and certificates | Well planned and executed programs which contribute significantly to the public good and to the betterment of the profession | Affiliates of the Young Lawyers Division | Early June |
Section Director 312/988-5614 |
Awards presented at Annual Meeting |
