“Nominations Open for Lawyers in Pro-Bono, Juvenile, Disability & Government Law”

"Nominations Are Open for Awards for Lawyers in Pro-Bono, Juvenile, Disability & Government Law Categories."

“ABA Public Service AwardsIn recognition of the importance of pro bono legal services, nominations are being accepted by the American Bar Association Section of Business Law for its National Public Service Award. The award recognizes significant pro bono services rendered to the poor in a business context, and the achievements resulting from the public service work for the clients and client groups represented. Awards will be given in both individual and firm/organization categories.Nominees must have:- Demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor through a pro bono program;- Contributed to 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; or- Provided sustained counsel to poor or underserved individuals or organizations.Nominees may not include either individuals who provide legal services to the poor for a fee or organizations that predominantly serve the poor.Nominations must be received by February 1, 2000. Submissions must include name, firm name, address and phone number for both nominee and nominator, the nominee’s resume (three pages or less) including practice area, service contributions, educational background and bar association activities, a description of how the nominee meets the nomination criteria, the nature of the pro bono work, any documentation of the work including articles or brochures, and references. Letters of support may be included.The winner and nominator will be notified by February 25, 2000. The award will be presented at the 2000 Spring Meeting of the ABA’s Business Law Section, in Columbus, Ohio.For information or to submit a nomination, contact Joanne Travis, ABA Section of Business Law, ABC National Public Service Award, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611, call 312-988-5680, or e-mail travisj@staff.abanet.org.Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice AwardNominations for the 15th annual Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award are now being accepted by the American Bar Association’s Juvenile Justice Center.The award was established to honor lawyers practicing in the juvenile justice field who display a high degree of skill and dedication in representing their young clients.Nominees should be active members of the bar of the highest court of any state, should devote a significant portion of their professional activity to advocacy on behalf of children, and should demonstrate commitment to representing their juvenile clients with the highest degree of skill and professionalism. Nominees should evidence a knowledge of and sustained interest in the legal issues surrounding children and youth, and should, through their practice, have a significant impact on the lives of children.Clients, organizations, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, defenders, individuals and/or agencies are encouraged to submit nominations.Nominations must be made on the official form available from the ABA, and are due by March 30, 2000. To obtain nomination forms or to get more information, contact Sadie Rosenthal, ABA Juvenile Justice Center, 740 15th Street N.W., 10th floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-1022, or e-mail RosenthS@staff.abanet.org.Paul G. Hearne AwardThe American Bar Association Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law, in conjunction with the National Organization on Disability is seeking nominations for the 2000 Paul G. Hearne Award.Established in 1999, the award honors an individual or organization that has performed exemplary service in furthering the rights, dignity and access to justice for some of the 54 million Americans with disabilities. Last year the award was presented to James W. Ellis, a law professor at the University of Mexico, for his pioneering efforts on behalf of people with mental disabilities in the criminal justice system.Paul G. Hearne, for whom the award was named, was born with a connective tissue disorder that physically limited his growth and restricted his movement. With tenacity, intelligence and initiative, he created opportunities and proved to be a leader for people with disabilities.Hearne served as director of Just One Break Inc., the nation’s first private job placement agency for people with disabilities; The National Council on Disability; The Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities; the International Center for the Disabled; the Very Special Arts International Fund, and the Ostogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.Hearnes also was one of the authors of the first national legal handbooks on disability rights and employment rights for people with disabilities. He also helped draft and secure passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and founded the American Association of People with Disabilities.Nominations are welcome from individuals in and outside of the legal profession, as well as organizations and agencies. The submission deadline is March 31, 2000.For information about the Paul G. Hearne Award or the nomination process, contact Barrie Black at 202-662-1570.Jefferson Fordham AwardsThe ABA Section of State and Local Government is seeking nominations for the Third Annual Jefferson Fordham Awards to be presented during the 2000 ABA Annual Meeting in New York.The section established the awards program in 1998 in honor of Jefferson B. Fordham, the first chair of the ABA Section of Local Government law in 1949. The awards honor outstanding lawyers and law firms that have achieved professional excellence within that area of practice, and will be presented in four categories: Law Office Accomplishment, Lifetime Achievement, Advocacy, and Up and Comers.Guidelines for submission of nominations are available from Jackie Baker by e-mail to jlbaker@staff.abanet.org, by telephone at 312-988-5652, or by visiting www.abanet.org/statelocal. Submission deadline is April 15, 2000.”