ISBA John C. McAndrews Award

Criteria for Law Firms and Corporate Law Departments

The Illinois State Bar Association has established the John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Award to honor the extraordinary commitment of individuals, bar associations, or law firm/corporate legal departments to providing free legal services to the income eligible in Illinois or expanding the availability of legal services to the income eligible in Illinois.

The nominee must be a law firm or corporate law department which has its principle practice in Illinois but is not an organization that has as its primary purpose the provision of free legal services, which encourages and supports; through written policy, pro bono involvement by its attorneys and staff. 

There are two categories for this award: (1) law firms or corporate law departments with more than 25 attorneys; or (20 law firms or corporate law departments that have less than 25 attorneys.

The following factors may be considered in selecting the recipient:

• Whether and how the law firm or corporate law department strives to meet ABA Standards for Pro Bono involvement.
• Whether and how the law firm or corporate law department has made this contribution through organized pro bono programs, including legal services programs, legal aid societies, local bar association pro bono programs, etc.
• Whether and how the law firm or corporate law department has successfully litigated pro bono cases that enhance the provision of other services to the income eligible.
• Whether and how the law firm or corporate law department which has done significant work in developing and implementing innovative approaches to the delivery of volunteer legal services to the income eligible, or has developed or adopted a free legal clinic.
• Whether and how the law firm or corporate law department has worked on legislation that enhances the availability of legal services to the income eligible.

Nominations must be received by March 15, 2010.

Download the nomination form