2022 Bar Pro Bono Awards Nominations Open

The cost-of-living crisis, funding cuts and other pressures on the legal system underline pro bono’s vital contribution to maintaining the rule of law.

The Bar Pro Bono Awards are an opportunity to highlight the incredible pro bono achievements of individuals at the Bar and celebrate #AccessToJustice champions and unsung #ProBonoHeroes.

Since 1997 the awards have recognised the outstanding commitment to pro bono work by barristers and chambers. Since then, pro bono has developed, broadened and grown, and it is increasingly difficult to choose one winner from a set of nominees working in different areas.

This year we are launching two new awards in partnership with the Bar Council, the Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year, and the Sustainability Initiative of the Year.

Sustainability Initiative of the Year

The world is drastically changing, and the legal profession is responding. That is why we are introducing this new award celebrating innovative sustainability initiatives led by individuals, chambers, employed Bar organisations, or cross-Bar organisations that demonstrate impact in one or more of the following ways:

• Reducing carbon emissions
• Reducing waste
• Increasing knowledge of sustainability or climate related issues among members and/or employees

Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year

Celebrating initiatives responding to social challenges within the legal profession is further deepened with the introduction of this award. Initiatives, not including environmental programmes, led by individuals, chambers, employed Bar organisations, or cross-Bar organisations that demonstrate impact in areas such as:

• Community and/or charitable projects (e.g., fundraising, working in schools, projects in the local community, public legal education)
• Diversity and social mobility (access, retention and progression programmes)
• Supply chains (e.g., innovative ways of auditing supply chains).

There are now eleven categories:

• Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
• Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
• Pro Bono QC of the Year
• International Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
• Pro Bono Chambers’ Professional of the Year
• Pro Bono Chambers of the Year
• Pro Bono Initiative of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono, the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award
• John Collins Pro Bono Excellence Award (in partnership with the North-Eastern Circuit)
• Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year (In partnership with the Bar Council)
• Sustainability Initiative of the Year (In partnership with the Bar Council Sustainability Network)

The Bar Pro Bono Awards would not be possible without the support the Bar shows each year.

A huge thank you to our main sponsors Lexis Nexis, the LPMA and the Bar Council.

To nominate someone, please fill in the nomination form and return it, along with between two and four supporting letters, to awards@weareadvocate.org.uk

Nominations are now open. The deadline is Friday 19^th August 2022.