2027 MBA PRO BONO AWARDS Survey

NOMINATIONS DUE OCTOBER 30, 2026

The Multnomah Bar Association (MBA) Pro Bono Awards recognize attorneys who provide pro bono assistance to low-income and underserved members of our community to reduce barriers to justice and access to the legal system. Recipients are screened and selected by the MBA/Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO)/Oregon Law Center (OLC) Pro Bono Subcommittee.

Awards will be presented at the MBA Annual Meeting and Dinner on Tuesday, May 18, 2027.

SCREENING AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Any attorney or law firm that has recently provided significant, exemplary pro bono work is eligible to receive these awards. Former nominees may be re-nominated. Members of the MBA/LASO/OLC Pro Bono Subcommittee are not eligible.

The recipient’s pro bono work should serve as an example for other attorneys in our legal community. Factors considered include:

The pro bono work performed by the nominee in the past year (including the number of hours donated and number of cases taken in the past year)
Commitment to pro bono (including the number of years in pro bono service)
History of willingness to take cases on an emergency or short-notice basis
Efforts to mentor, support, and/or train new pro bono volunteers
Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
Successful impact litigation and/or advocacy to increase legal service to pro bono clients
Promotes a culture of pro bono work in our legal community
Years of service and pro bono work performed with other organizations
To increase awareness of the many dedicated private attorneys that volunteer each year, the committee will consider whether the nominee has previously been recognized for their pro bono work

All information gathered by the Subcommittee shall be confidential, including the Subcommittee's discussions, deliberations, and reports to the MBA Board.

The MBA, LASO, and OLC recognize the important contributions of all lawyers and welcome all nominees from every race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, ability, family status and socioeconomic status and type of legal practice in our effort to recognize the accomplishments of all lawyers who work to further justice for all.

Nominators may be contacted for more information. Questions? Please contact the MBA at 503.222.3275.

1.Select the award for which you are nominating:(Required.)

Legal Aid Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year. Presented to a lawyer (or lawyers) who has displayed an outstanding commitment to the delivery of critical pro bono services to low-income persons through LASO or OLC.

Michael E. Haglund Young Lawyer Award. Presented to a young lawyer (or lawyers) who, in the tradition of Michael Haglund, founder of the Volunteer Lawyers Project, has displayed a particular dedication to pro bono services. A “young lawyer” is a lawyer who is 36 years old or younger OR who has been an attorney licensed for six years or less.

Pro Bono Award of Merit. Presented to a lawyer (or lawyers or law firm) who has exhibited the highest standards of commitment to increasing access to justice within Oregon for those unable to afford legal assistance or those from communities underserved by the legal profession.

Please complete the following questions about the nominee:

2.Nominee Name(Required.)

3.Nominee Oregon State Bar Number (if applicable)

4.Nominee Address

5.Nominee Telephone

6.Nominee Email

7.Please explain why this nominee is uniquely deserving of this award and describe the nominee’s pro bono work referencing the selection criteria factors, including organization(s)/projects where the nominee volunteers.

You may also submit the nominee’s resume and letters of recommendation by those qualified to speak of the nominee’s pro bono work to Ryan Mosier at ryan@mbabar.org.(Required.)

Please tell us a little about yourself:

8.Nominator Name(Required.)

9.Nominator Phone(Required.)

10.Nominator Email(Required.)