it’s time to honor pro se work done pro bono
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The National Law Journal is seeking nominations for its 2006 Pro Bono Awards. NLJ notes that “Past winners include lawyers whose pro bono work has entailed significant financial sacrifice, has had a broad impact and, because of their clients’ unpopularity, has exposed them to criticism.” shlep wants to urge pro se practitioners and advocates to nominate worthy members of the legal community who have made significant volunteer efforts for the improvement and expansion of self-help/pro se resources in their communities, states or nation. We have often argued that self-help law volunteers greatly leverage pro bono resources — either directly serving more pro se litigants per hour of service, or indirectly helping to create resources that are widely available — and their efferts should be encouraged and recognized.
Whether we spotlight a bar leader who has fought for pro se projects and funding (often against strong “guild” opposition), a private attorney who has organized a courthouse program or helped to staff one, or an academic providing research or clinical oversight, it’s about time the self-help community let the rest of the bar know that efforts on behalf of pro se litigants are an important part of the legal profession’s pro bono contribution to public welfare. The deadline to receive nominations is Nov. 16. Details here. (via Legal Profession [We]Blog)
