Frankie Muse Freeman Organizational Pro Bono Award
The Frankie Muse Freeman Organizational Pro Bono Award was established by the Standing Committee on Access to Legal Services of the Virginia State Bar in 2016 to honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the area of pro bono legal services for the poor. Organizations that are eligible for the award may include, for example, law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, local bar associations, court-based projects, and law school programs. The Access Committee annually reviews all nominations and decides upon the recipient. The award, a framed certificate, will be presented at a ceremony during the Virginia Pro Bono and Legal Aid Conference in October.
CRITERIA
The organization that is the recipient of the award must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- A multi-year track record demonstrating dedication to the development and delivery of pro bono legal services in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
- Significant contributions toward the development of innovative approaches to the delivery of volunteer legal services;
- Sponsorship and promotion of activities that resulted in addressing previously unmet needs for legal services or in extending services to underserved segments of the population; or
- Notable success in handling specific pro bono cases that resulted in important outcomes for low-income clients or which favorably affected the provision of other vital services to the poor in Virginia.
There must be one or more members of the Virginia State Bar who are actively involved in the work of the organization. If all the attorneys who do the work of the organization are persons whose livelihood is derived from delivering legal services to the poor, then the organization is not eligible to receive the award.
See the awards page for nomination details and deadline.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
Frankie Muse Freeman (2016 — Danville)
McGuireWoods (2017 — Richmond)
Prince William County Bar Association (2018 — Prince William County)
Consumer Litigation Associates, P.C. and Kelly Guzzo, PLC (2019 — Alexandria/Newport News and Fairfax, respectively)
Freddie Mac Legal Department (2020)
Greater Richmond Bar Foundation (2021 – Richmond)