The Pro Bono Team of the Year award recognises an outstanding team operating within the pro-bono space, contributing to improving equal access to justice though tangible initiatives which lead to better outcomes for Queenslanders and the Queensland communities they serve.
The team will have demonstrated a drive to tackle critical and current issues impacting access to justice through the adoption and advocacy of innovative approaches to supporting the legal assistance sector through pro-bono activities.
Criteria
Contribution (marked out of 10)
The nominated team demonstrates outstanding contributions to Queensland and/or Queenslanders within the pro-bono space.
Impact (marked out of 10)
The nominated team can demonstrate the impacts and outcomes of their pro-bono activities and their direct impact on creating better outcomes for their clients / the community. This may be from a key pro-bono initiative or it may be from a sustained record of service.
Advocacy (marked out of 10)
The nominated team displays a genuine interest in advocating for the needs and rights of those vulnerable within the community they serve, acting to the highest standards of ethical and moral responsibility.
Innovation (marked out of 10)
The nominated team demonstrates their use of innovative approaches to legal assistance that show promise or expanding or shaping the future of the legal assistance sector.
Professional commitment beyond the call of duty (marked out of 10)
The nominated team shows attributes of an outstanding pro-bono team evidenced by their ongoing advocacy, action and commitment to enhancing the reputation profession within the community.
Eligibility
Eligible
- Nominated organisations must be a non-government legal practice of solicitors in Queensland, and may include community legal centres.
- Nominations of organisations must be endorsed by the managing partner/director (or equivalent) of the legal practices who must be a full member of Queensland Law Society (QLS).
- 75% of practitioners in the nominating organisation must be full members of QLS.
- Nominees must be Queensland-based.
- Nominees must be of good character. Nominations are reviewed by Queensland Law Society's regulation division and the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre. The due diligence will include (but is not limited to) legal review of the nominee's disciplinary history.
- The nominee has not previously won this award in the past three consecutive years.
Not eligible
- Judging panel members
- Queensland Law Society Council members or employees are not eligible for nomination.
Key dates
Thursday 18 April Nominations open
Monday 3 June Nominations close
Monday 15 July Finalists announced
Saturday 24 August Winners announced