The Massachusetts Bar Association annually recognizes the efforts of attorneys and law firms that have made significant strides in enhancing access to justice.
Nominations for the 2023-24 Access to Justice Awards have now closed. Check back soon for information on this year's award ceremony.
Award categories include:
- PRO BONO PUBLICO AWARD: This award is given to an individual who has been instrumental in developing, implementing and supporting pro bono programs for the MBA, a local county bar association or a pro bono program of a law firm, or has developed a pro bono program sponsored or organized through an agency in the commonwealth, or has performed significant or meaningful pro bono activity.
- DEFENDER AWARD: This award is given to an attorney who is employed or retained by a public or nonprofit agency to provide criminal legal services to low-income clients, and who has made a particularly significant or meaningful contribution to the provision of low-income legal services, above and beyond the requirements of their position.
- LEGAL SERVICES AWARD: This award is given to an attorney employed by a public or nonprofit agency to provide civil legal services to low-income clients, and who has made a particularly significant or meaningful contribution to the provision of low-income legal services, above and beyond the requirements of their position.
- PRO BONO AWARD FOR LAW FIRMS: This award is given to a law firm, composed of two or more attorneys with one or more offices in the commonwealth, whose pro bono activities are particularly noteworthy in relation to the firm’s size, and which has performed significant or meaningful pro bono activities or has been particularly instrumental in developing, implementing and/or supporting a pro bono program or pro bono service within Massachusetts.
- PROSECUTOR AWARD: This award is given to a state or federal prosecutor who has distinguished themself in public service, and whose commitment to justice and serving the communities where they live or work is particularly praiseworthy.
- RISING STAR AWARD: This award is given to an attorney employed by a legal services organization, a public defender organization, or a state or federal prosecutor’s office, or an attorney who has engaged in significant pro bono activities, who has been a practicing attorney for seven years or less, who has distinguished themself by a particular accomplishment or body of work that has made a significant and meaningful contribution to access to justice to an underserved population within Massachusetts.
- RACE, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AWARD: This award is given to an attorney or law firm that has pursued zealous advocacy framed with a race, equity and inclusion lens. A race, equity and inclusion lens includes a strategy that advances critical race theory, including the impact of individual and structural racism.
- LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: This award is given to an MBA member at the end of their career (or posthumously). This award is given to an attorney who has committed almost their entire career to advancing access to justice issues.