Nominate a Worthy Attorney For a Citizen Lawyer Award

By Pamela S. Duffy

The Local Bar Outreach Committee is soliciting nominations for the 2019 Citizen Lawyer Awards for NCBA members who have distinguished themselves in their volunteer service to community and civic causes.  Since 2007, the NCBA has recognized lawyers who provide exemplary public service with its Citizen Lawyer Awards. Since 2016, I have had the pleasure of serving as a chair of this Committee.  We have the privilege of reviewing information about dedicated lawyers across our state who give back to their communities and awarding them recognition for that service.  A list of past recipients can be found here with descriptions of the great work they have performed for their local communities or in state-wide organizations. We encourage you to identify and nominate deserving lawyers in your community so that we may honor them at the NCBA annual meeting in June.  Our hope is to get a pool of applicants who are diverse in many respects:  geographically; the type of volunteer work performed; age, race and gender.

Citizen Lawyer Award winners lawyers have demonstrated their passion for diverse organizations and interests, such as the Boys and Girls Club, organizations supporting the arts, United Way, non-profit hospice organizations, Habitat for Humanity, Women’s Resource Centers, or religious organizations, to name just a few.  They have tackled difficult issue such as homelessness, unemployment, hunger, and poverty.  They have bolstered education in their respective communities, or served as elected officials overseeing local government.  In numerous ways which are too various to list here in a comprehensive way, they tirelessly work to provide hope and make their respective communities a better, stronger place.

I am sure each of you know a lawyer in your area who stands out for their community service.  Please consider thanking them by nominating them for this prestigious award.  A successful nominee will have demonstrated a commitment to service in one or more of the following areas:  military service; elected or appointed service to local or state government; service on boards of community agencies or nonprofit organizations; leadership in public service projects; significant volunteer involvement with schools, faith-based programs or other service minded organizations.

Please help us recognize and thank these lawyers for their service.  Deadlines for nominations are by 5 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2019.  Please click this link to access the nomination form.