The Missouri Bar announced on May 6 that nominations are now being accepted for its annual Pro Bono Awards, with a submission deadline of June 15.
The awards recognize lawyers and law firms across the state who have demonstrated exemplary pro bono service. These honors highlight the importance of legal professionals providing free legal assistance to those in need and support efforts to improve access to justice.
Each year, five awards are presented during National Pro Bono Week in October. Four of these are given to an individual lawyer or law firm practicing in each of the following regions: the St. Louis metropolitan area, the Kansas City metropolitan area, and two in greater Missouri. The fifth award is reserved for a member of the Young Lawyers’ Section.
To be eligible, nominees must be an individual lawyer or a law firm, with significant service occurring within the past year and provided without compensation except reimbursement for actual expenses. The pro bono work must have been rendered directly to low-income persons—defined as those under 200% of the federal poverty level—or as a volunteer for a public or tax-exempt nonprofit organization serving low-income individuals. Recipients must not have received this award within the past five years and must be members in good standing with The Missouri Bar.
For more information about nomination criteria or to submit nominations, interested parties can visit the Pro Bono Awards nomination form or read about previous awardees. In addition to these awards, The Missouri Bar Foundation and The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section are also accepting nominations for several other honors; details can be found through their official channels.
The Missouri Bar serves as the integrated professional association for all practicing attorneys in Missouri and operates under a Board of Governors composed of elected attorneys representing districts throughout the state. It contributes to communities by providing legal information resources, supporting fair legal practices, enhancing justice for residents statewide, utilizing facilities such as The Bar Center—which includes conference rooms—and serving both legal professionals and local communities according to the official website.
