Pro Bono Awards
PRO BONO AWARDS
Congratulations to the 2013 Pro Bono Award Winners! Click here to learn more about each 2012-13 winner.
View Award Recipients
Contact Information
William Thorp Pro Bono Service Award
Presented to an attorney who has provided exemplary legal services without a fee. Particular consideration is given to lawyers whose voluntary contributions have resulted in the increased access to legal services on the part of low-income people.
Eligibility Criteria: A lawyer who 1) practices in North Carolina; 2) is not employed on a full-time basis by an organization that has as its primary purpose the provision of free legal services to the poor; 3) has provided direct delivery of legal services with no expectation of receiving a fee to a client or client group that could not afford to employ compensated legal counsel and that those services are substantially in excess of the aspirational goals of Rule 6.1; and 4) has made significant voluntary contributions that have resulted in the increased access of legal services on the part of low-income people. Note that the nominee should have engaged in the direct delivery of legal services and in making significant voluntary contributions over an extended period of time and those efforts are ongoing.
Deborah Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award
Presented to a legal services attorney who has made an exemplary contribution to the provision of legal assistance to help meet the needs of the poverty population in North Carolina.
Eligibility Criteria: A lawyer who is employed full-time by a legal services program in North Carolina.
Chief Justice Award
Recognizes a local, district or statewide bar organization whose members have performed outstanding legal services or have given outstanding support and assistance or maintenance of such programs for low-income people.
Eligibility Criteria: Any local, district, or statewide bar organization in North Carolina.
Outstanding Law Firm Pro Bono Service
There are two categories for law firm awards.
Smaller Law Firm Award
Recognizes law firms employing 2-15 attorneys for their commitment to the provision of pro bono service.
Large Law Firm Award
Recognizes pro bono efforts in North Carolina from among the 25 largest law firms in North Carolina.
Eligibility Criteria for each: Consideration will be given to a firm's hours of service and/or percentage of "billable hours" devoted to pro bono work; number/percentage of attorneys providing pro bono legal services; creative approaches to encourage pro bono participation; and consistence of the firm's efforts to provide pro bono assistance.
Law Student Group Pro Bono Service Award
Presented to an outstanding law student whose pro bono project benefits low-income people in North Carolina.
Eligibility Criteria: Consideration will be given to 1) a group project consisting of two or more students at a North Carolina law school; 2) who are not receiving law school academic credit for their work; and 3) providing assistance to low-income people in North Carolina.
Younger Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award
Presented to a younger lawyer who has made extraordinary contributions by providing exemplary legal services without a fee to persons of limited means or to charitable groups or organizations.
Eligibility Criteria: A lawyer who 1) practices in North Carolina and is 36 years of age or younger or in the first three years of practice; 2) is not employed on a full-time basis by a legal services organization; 3) has provided direct delivery of pro bono legal services; or 4) whose voluntary contributions have resulted in increased access to legal services on the part of low-income people in North Carolina. This award is selected and presented by the YLD.
CONTACTS:
Questions about awards contact:
Mary Horowitz
Director of Public Service & Pro Bono Activities
(919) 657-1559
mhorowitz@ncbar.org
Award nomination forms contact:
Kathy Jefferson
Administrative Assistant
(919) 657-1585
kjefferson@ncbar.org