This year during the International Bar Association (IBA) 2010 Annual Conference, to be held 3–8 October in Vancouver, the IBA’s Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee will honour a lawyer who has shown an outstanding commitment to pro bono work as part of their legal career.

In its role as a dual membership organisation, comprising 40,000 individual lawyers and more than 195 bar associations and law societies, the IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession. Its Member Organisations cover all continents and include the American Bar Association, the German Federal Bar, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Mexican Bar Association.

The IBA Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee fosters world wide recognition of the principle that access to justice is the right of all individuals and promotes access to justice for all, regardless of their financial means, race, age, ethnicity, gender, or popularity of cause. Pro bono work is a cornerstone of the legal profession, and the IBA Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee wants to help build a culture of pro bono work by lawyers, law-firms and organisations of lawyers, as a vehicle for access to justice where that right is not fully supported by legal aid.

The IBA Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee invites nominations for its prestigious Pro Bono Award of lawyers who are leading our profession in building a pro bono culture. All applications received by Friday 2 July 2010 will be submitted to a judging panel who must be satisfied that the nominee is eligible for the award. Therefore the person you have nominated must also complete the personal details section of the form.

LexisNexis are honoured to partner with the Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee in sponsoring their 2010 Pro Bono Award. This award will include a free registration to attend the annual conference, a contribution of up to $5000 towards accommodation and travel costs, and one year’s free membership of the IBA, PPID and the Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee.

To nominate an outstanding lawyer, please click here for more information and the nomination form.

All nominations must be submitted to Jenny Clugston (jenny.clugston@int-bar.org) at the IBA London office by Friday 2 July 2010. 

First posted on 20/04/2010.