Press Release  Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee Solicits Nominations for 2022 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards and Submissions for Pro Bono Honor Roll

BOSTON, MA — The Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services today announced that it is seeking nominations for the 2022 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards. Named for attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Adams Awards honor Massachusetts lawyers, law students, law firms, and legal organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to providing pro bono services for the benefit of individuals of limited means. Service worthy of an Adams Award may include, but is not limited to:

• The creation of or participation in an activity or pro bono program that expands legal services to underserved segments of the population or fills a previously unmet need;

• Significant work on litigation, the outcome of which benefits persons of limited means; or

• Significant work on the adoption of legislation or policies that benefit individuals of limited means.

The Committee encourages the submission of nominations that reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth’s residents. More information about award criteria and nomination guidelines can be found on the About the Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards webpage. The deadline for nominations is July 1, 2022.

The Committee is also seeking submissions by lawyers, law students, law firms and other legal organizations who qualify for the Pro Bono Honor Roll.  

• To be eligible for the Honor Roll for Individual Attorneys, attorneys must certify that they have provided at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services during calendar year 2021. Attorneys who completed at least 100 hours of pro bono legal services during calendar year 2021 are eligible for the High Honor Roll for Individual Attorneys.

• The Honor Roll for Law Students recognizes students who have completed at least 50 hours of law-related pro bono services over the course of their law school careers.

• The Honor Roll for Legal Organizations recognizes law firms, solo practitioners, in-house corporate counsel offices, government attorney offices, non-profit organizations, and law schools who meet certain criteria for the number of hours of pro bono legal services provided by their attorneys and firm policies concerning pro bono service.

More information and links to online application forms are available at the About the Pro Bono Honor Roll webpage. Applications for the Pro Bono Honor Roll should be submitted by September 30, 2022. 

Established in 1999, the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services works to promote volunteer legal work in Massachusetts to help people of limited means who are in need of legal representation, in accordance with Rule 6.1 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct.

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