General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division

2008 Solo & Small Firm Project Award

Program Summaries & Application Instructions

Solo and Small Firm Project Award: Designed to reward bar leaders and associations for their successful implementation of a project or program specifically targeted to solo and small firm lawyers.

Who may apply?

Any national, state, local, women's, minority, or specialty bar association is eligible to submit an application.

What are the benefits of this award?

A handsome award presented at the spring awards luncheon of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division.
A $200 gift certificate for travel to the Division’s Fall Meeting.
A press release prepared by the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division, which you can use to publicize the award.
Notifications sent from the Division to the President, President-Elect, and Executive Director of your parent bar.

What is the deadline?

Applications must be submitted (online) or postmarked no later than March 17, 2008.

Can an entity submit more than one application?

You may submit one or two entries in this award category, as long as each entry represents a separate and distinct program or project.

How to apply?

Please read the instructions carefully and submit all necessary information. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The easiest way to apply is to fill out the Solo and Small Firm Project Award Online Application and click "Submit". Otherwise you may send one original and three copies of the complete application. Applications must be typed.

If you are choosing to send in hard copies of the application, please mail/fax to:
ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division
Attn: Awards Program
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Fax: 312/988-5711
*All applications become the property of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division. The Division has the right to display your entry at any event.

Please Submit the Following Information

Title Page: The first page of your application should be titled "Solo and Small Firm Project Award" and include the following information: name, address, phone number and email address of Nominee as well as the name, address phone number, and email address of person submitting application.
Project Summary: Prepare a project summary which addresses the criteria listed below. If submitting via hard copy, the summary must be typed, double-spaced, and limited to 5 pages.
The Issue or Opportunity: Describe the issue or opportunity that your program or project was designed to address. Provide information that will help the judges understand the audience you intended to reach. Include any unique problems in reaching this audience.
Goals and Objectives: Describe the goals and objectives of your project. Explain why you decided on this course of action to address the issue/opportunity. Is this project innovative and unique in addressing this issue/opportunity?
Budget: Provide information on the expenses and revenues for this project. Include source of funds. Also indicate the amount of your entity’s annual budget.
Implementation and Execution: Explain the nature and extent of your involvement and how you involved other entity members and staff (include specific numbers). Identify the participation of cosponsors. Describe any changes that were made at the execution stage that were not considered in the planning stage.
Results and Evaluation: Describe how you measured the success of the project. Did you meet or exceed your goals? Indicate why or why not. If you do not have the results, save your entry for next year’s awards.
Project Samples: Include samples of the actual material- program brochures, publications, communication pieces, etc.- that you developed for your program or project.

Who pays for the shipping costs incurred?

Applicants are responsible for all shipping costs incurred in sending entries to the Division. We suggest that your application be sent by certified mail- return receipt requested.

How will I know my application has been received?

The General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks following its delivery to the Division.

When will the awards be distributed?

Awards will be presented at the Spring Meeting Awards Luncheon of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division in New Orleans, May 2, 2008.

What is the judging process?

A panel of judges chosen by the Awards Committee will select and notify all winners by telephone by March 31, 2008. The judges may award more than one winner in a category. The judges’ decisions shall be final. A Certificate of Performance will be awarded to each entity submitting an application that does not receive another award.

What if I have additional questions?

Contact the Division’s staff offices at (312/988-5648) or via e-mail genpractice@abanet.org.