Nov. 18, 2015 – Do you know a pro bono hero – a person or organization who has made a difference in their community? Here’s your chance to get them the recognition they deserve.

Each year, the State Bar's Legal Assistance Committee annually recognizes attorneys and organizations for their outstanding pro bono service.

The committee is now accepting nominations for the Pro Bono Awards in the following categories:

• Individual attorney in private practice, corporate practice, or employed by a government office or agency;

• A private law firm, group or association

Awards are given to recognize outstanding efforts that provide pro bono legal services to low- and moderate-income people, explore new ways to increase the accessibility of legal services, provide encouragement and assistance to others in improving legal services delivery, or promote pro bono service for Wisconsin lawyers.

The awards will be conferred at the State Bar's Annual Meeting and Conference in June.

Who Can Be Nominated?

In making its decisions on the Pro Bono Awards, the Legal Assistance Committee considers whether the nominee has:

• demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor;

• contributed significantly toward developing innovative ways to deliver volunteer legal services;

• participated in an activity that resulted in satisfying previously unmet legal needs or extending legal services to an underserved segment of the population;

• handled pro bono cases that favorably affected the provision of services to the poor;

• worked on legislation that contributed substantially to legal services to the poor;

• made an outstanding effort to provide legal services to an underserved segment of the population; or

• any combination of these contributions.

Submit Your Nominations by Feb. 1

Nominations should be accompanied by supporting information, including:

• a written summary of the pro bono service or services provided by the nominee, or a description of the nominee's commitment to the provision of pro bono civil legal services;

• the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae;

• newspaper, newsletter, or magazine articles documenting the nominee's service, or brochures about the nominee's work or the organization with which the nominee is affiliated;

• testimonials or letters of support or recommendations from clients who have been helped by the nominee; and

• letters of support or recommendations from colleagues and persons with whom the nominee has worked in providing pro bono services.

For more information and a nomination form, contact Jeff Brown at (800) 728-7788, ext. 6177, (608) 250-6177, or go to the online nomination form (member login required).

Read about last year’s award winners in InsideTrack.