ISBA John C. McAndrews Award

Criteria for Individual Lawyers

The Illinois State Bar Association has established the John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award to honor those members of the profession that have shown extraordinary commitments 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 an ISBA lawyer-member who practices and is in good standing in Illinois.  The nominee may not be employed full-time by an organization that has as its primary purpose the provision of free legal services to the income eligible.  The nominee must have provided direct delivery of legal services in civil matters, with no expectation receiving a fee, to a client or client group that does not have the resources to employ compensated counsel.

The following factors may be considered in selecting the recipient:

• Whether and how the lawyer has contributed significant time to provide free legal services to the income eligible, e.g. 75-100 hours per year.
• Whether and how the lawyer has made this contribution through organized pro bono programs, including legal services programs, legal aid societies, local bar association pro bono programs, etc, or has had a long term consistent involvement in pro bono activities over the years.
• Whether and how the lawyer has successfully litigated pro bono cases that enhance the provision of other services to the income eligible.
• Whether and how the lawyer has done significant work in developing and implementing innovative approaches to the delivery of volunteer legal services to the income eligible.
• Whether and how the lawyer 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