ABA Pro Bono Publico Award - Nomination Guidelines
2009 ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards
Nomination Criteria and Application Requirements
Award Background and Overview
The Pro Bono Publico Awards were established by the American Bar Association in 1984 to recognize lawyers and law firms for extraordinary noteworthy contributions to extending legal services to the poor and disadvantaged. The recipients exemplify the volunteer tradition of the legal profession. The Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service administers the program. Each year the Pro Bono Committee Service presents five awards to individual lawyers and institutions in the legal profession that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services. The awards will next be presented at the Pro Bono Publico Awards Luncheon on Monday, August 3, 2009 at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.
Program Statement
The Pro Bono Publico Awards program seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to persons of limited means and the organizations which serve them. These services are of critical importance to the increasing number of people in this country living in a state of poverty who are in need of legal representation to improve their lives.
The commitment, energy and new approaches to the delivery of pro bono service demonstrated by past recipients serve as models for others in the legal profession. Some candidates will be nominated for their longtime dedication to the delivery of pro bono legal services. Others might be nominated for their creative approaches to the delivery of volunteer legal services or their commitment to representing low income persons. Some may have brought about legislation that contributes substantially to supporting legal services to the poor.
Although many groups, such as bar associations and volunteer lawyer projects do not meet the criteria for the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award, these groups may be eligible for a number of other ABA awards that honor bar associations, public service and legal aid lawyers and others. For more information visit http://www.abaprobono.org/abaawards.html.
Award Eligibility
Individual attorneys who do not obtain their income delivering legal services to persons of limited means are eligible. Small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments, law schools and other institutions in the legal profession whose members have collectively made an outstanding contribution toward one or more of the criteria are also eligible. International pro bono work is eligible for nomination but pro bono work done domestically is given priority by the Committee. No more than five awardees will be selected from those who have excelled consistent with the Criteria set forth in the nomination application requirements.
Repeat Nominations
If you have nominated someone previously and want to nominate them again for 2009, please submit (1) the online nomination form and (2) updated material (at minimum: a current resume and an updated award criteria narrative).
Nomination Application Requirements
- Nomination Form
- Nominee's Resume
- Award Criteria Narrative
In no more than five single-spaced pages, provide specific, concrete examples of the nominee’s performance of as many of the following criteria as apply:
- demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to persons of limited means or low income communities through a pro bono program;
- contributed significant work toward developing innovative approaches to delivery of volunteer legal services;
- participated in an activity that resulted in satisfying previously unmet needs or in extending services to underserved segments of the population;
- successfully litigated pro bono cases that favorably affected the provision of other services to persons of limited means or low income communities; OR
- successfully achieved legislation that contributed substantially to legal services to persons of limited means or low income communities.
- Articles/Letters
Complete and submit the online nomination form. This form must be submitted for both new nominations and for repeat nominations.
Include the nominee's resume or biography, describing their background and contributions.
You may submit up to 10 news articles written by or about the candidate and no more than 5 letters of support from individuals or organizations.
Additional Procedures
- The nomination form and your supporting materials constitute the sole basis for the nomination.
- The limitation on articles and letters of support will be observed. If more than 10 articles or 5 letters of support are submitted, the Committee staff will determine which will be included with the final nomination packet under consideration by Committee members.
- Nominations must be submitted via email.
- Send the nomination through the online form and send all supporting materials to .
- Include the nominator and nominee's names in the subject line.
- Articles can be submitted via live URL links or PDF files.
- Current members or liaisons of the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service are not eligible for the Award for the duration of their terms and for one year following service.
Deadline/Timetable
Nomination forms and all supporting materials must be sent via e-mail to the Committee by the close of business on Monday, March 2, 2009. No extensions will be granted.
The Committee will select award recipients in April, 2009. All nominators will be notified about the status of their nomination as soon as possible after selections are made.
The 2009 award will be presented at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on Monday, August 3, 2009.
Questions?
