Nominations for TBA's Public Service Awards should summarize the accomplishments and reasons for nominating this individual. The narrative should describe with specificity how the nominee meets the criteria of the award. Honorees are selected based on the narrative provided in response to the criteria below. Nominators should advocate for the nominees: explain their accomplishments and describe both how they set the nominees apart from colleagues in their field and how they have benefited the community. Provide specific examples and avoid generalizations as much as possible. Supplemental documentation including letters of support or news items may be submitted with the nomination. 

Return to the Public Service Awards page for more information and nomination forms.

Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award Criteria

(1) The nominee should have contributed a significant amount of pro bono work, either in terms of number of cases handled or significance of the work

(2) The casework for which the nomination shall be considered should have occurred within the past three years;

(3) The nominee should have been employed in private practice or a corporate setting during the period that nominated casework occurred; and

(4) The nominee should have demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to low-income and otherwise marginalized clients.

Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award Criteria

(1) The nominee should have represented an indigent client in either civil or criminal defense;

(2) The casework for which the nomination shall be considered should have occurred within the past two years; and

(3) The nominee should have been employed by an organization that is primarily engaged in providing legal representation to the indigent or marginalized during the period that nominated casework occurred.

Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award Criteria

(1) The nominee should be a student currently enrolled at a Tennessee law school or have graduated in the past year;

(2) The nominee should have provided dedicated and outstanding pro bono service while enrolled in a Tennessee law school; and

(3) The nominee should have provided the service while working with an organization primarily engaged in providing legal representation to indigent or marginalized clients.