Pro Bono Publico Awards

Each year, the UNC School of Law Pro Bono Program recognizes the outstanding pro bono service of students, student groups, and faculty through awards presented at the Pro Bono/Public Interest Reception. This year's reception will be in April.  Nominations for these awards may be submitted by any member of the UNC Law community (including alumni) as well as any legal organization participating Program. Please submit your nominations to Dean Novinsky by email at probono@unc.edu or by fax at 919.962.5684.  Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 27 at 5:00 pm. If you have any questions, contact Katie Carmon, Program Director, at k_carmon@hotmail.com.

Nomination Guidelines

To ensure that your nomination packet is complete, please include:

  1. Nominee Information Sheet: The nomination sheet should include nominee's name, address, phone number, email address, and the award for which you are nominating that person/group.
  2. Nomination Narrative: Please explain how the candidate meets the criteria for the Pro Bono Publico Award. Specify the nature of the pro bono contribution and identify those who have benefited. You are encouraged, but not required, to provide supporting materials which demonstrate the candidate's pro bono contribution, including letters of support, articles, brochures, hours spent and other documentation, and no more than three names, emails, and telephone numbers of people who could provide additional information if needed.

Awards

UNC School of Law Pro Bono Graduating Student of the Year

Any UNC Law student graduating in December or May of the current academic year is eligible. Criteria: (a) continuity of pro bono service during law school career; (b) diversity of pro bono service; and (c) impact of pro bono work on fellow students, the school and/or the community.

UNC School of Law 3L Pro Bono Student of the Year

Any UNC Law student in the Class of 2008 is eligible for this award. Criteria: (a) impact of pro bono work on fellow students, the school and/or the community; and (b) length of service.

UNC School of Law 2L Pro Bono Student of the Year

Any UNC Law student in the Class of 2009 is eligible for this award. Criteria: (a) impact of pro bono work on fellow students, the school and/or the community; and (b) length of service.

UNC School of Law 1L Pro Bono Student of the Year

Any UNC Law student in the class of 2010 is eligible for this award. Criteria: (a) impact of pro bono work on fellow students, the school and/or the community; and (b) length of service.

UNC Law Group Pro Bono Project of the Year

Any officially recognized student group at UNC Law is eligible. Criteria: (a) demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor, through pro bono; (b) contribution to the development of innovative approaches to delivery of volunteer legal services; (c) participation in an activity that satisfied previously unmet needs or extended services to underserved segments of the population; and (d) sustainability/continuity of project.

UNC School of Law Pro Bono Professor/Faculty Member of the Year

Any UNC Law professor (full-time or adjunct) or faculty member is eligible. Criteria: (a) Demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor through pro bono service; (c) contribution of significant work toward developing innovative approaches to delivery of volunteer legal services; (d) participation in an activity which resulted in satisfying previously unmet needs or in extending services to underserved segments of the population; (e) successful litigation of pro bono cases that favorably affected the provision of other services to the poor; (e) achievement (or attempt) of legislation that contributed substantially to legal services to the poor; (f) extent to which professor involved students in his or her pro bono service.