Reginald Heber Smith Award

AWARD STATEMENT

The Reginald Heber Smith Award, given annually, recognizes the dedicated services and outstanding achievements of a civil legal aid attorney or an indigent defense attorney while employed by an organization supporting such services. The “Reggie” is named for a former counsel at the Boston Legal Aid Society and the author of Justice and the Poor, published by the Carnegie Foundation in 1919.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA

A person is eligible to be recognized for service as a civil legal aid attorney or an indigent defense attorney while employed by an organization supporting such service. The award may be given up to two years after the attorney’s termination of employment from the organization. The person must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The attorney has provided extraordinary and successful legal advocacy on behalf of clients who could not otherwise afford counsel.

• The attorney has significantly advanced the cause of equal justice for individual clients or low-income communities.

• The attorney exemplifies, through his or her record of exceptional advocacy, leadership and dedication, the very best the equal justice community has to offer.

Denison Ray Award

AWARD STATEMENT

The Denison Ray Award, awarded biennially, honors an individual who has provided exceptional service to the legalaid community as a staff member, client board member or volunteer of a provider program. The “Denny” is named for a career legal aid activist who served as executive director of legal services programs in Missouri, Maine, North Carolina and New York and was a long-time leader of the Project Advisory Group.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA

A person who has provided at least five (5) years of service to the legal aid community as a staff member, a client board member or a volunteer of legal aid program will be eligible for the “Denny” award. The person must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The individual has made extraordinary contributions to the goal of achieving equal justice for low-income people.

• The individual has demonstrated leadership in a local, state or national role and has acted as a mentor for others.

• The individual has set an inspirational example of industriousness, creativity and determination in his/her legal aid work.

• The individual exhibits a passionate quest for fairness and equality and a history of commitment to equal justice.

Emery A. Brownell Award

AWARD STATEMENT

The Emery A. Brownell Award, awarded biennially, gives national recognition to newspapers, magazines, filmmakers, and television and radio stations that have informed the public about the crucial role played by civil legal aid or defender organizations in ensuring equal justice for those who cannot afford counsel. This award commemorates Emery Brownell, who was NLADA’s executive director from 1940 until his death in 1961.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA

Entries of media coverage, including print, audio and audiovisual coverage, will be eligible if they have appeared during the two years preceding th award nomination deadline, and meet one or more of the following award criteria:

• Inform and educate the public about the need for legal services to persons who have traditionally been denied such assistance
• Foster a greater understanding of the lawyer’s role in the resolution of disputes, particularly those involving persons who traditionally have been denied access to justice

• Bring attention to the importance of the constitutional right to counsel in criminal proceedings

• Bring attention to the need for civil legal assistance of low-income people and communities

Arthur von Briesen Award

AWARD STATEMENT

The Arthur von Briesen Award, given biennially, honors a private attorney who has made substantial volunteer contributions in support of the delivery of civil legal aid or indigent defense representation. The award celebrates the achievements of the first president of NLADA.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA

A person is eligible to be recognized for service in a volunteer capacity as a private attorney, and must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The attorney has provided extraordinary and successful legal advocacy on behalf of clients who could not otherwise afford counsel.
• The attorney has significantly advanced the cause of equal justice for individual clients or low-income communities.

• The attorney exemplifies, through his or her record of exceptional advocacy, leadership, and dedication, the very best the private bar has to offer in pro bono service to the cause of justice for all.