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Make a Nomination

The Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Award will be presented to one or more lawyers practicing in the Fifth Judicial Circuit who have provided outstanding pro bono services to low-income individuals or charitable organizations in the last year. Nominations for these awards are now open.

You may submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague, and you may also submit multiple nominations. The awards are intended to recognize pro bono legal services rendered in the last twelve months. The pro bono work may be performed through a legal aid agency or on your own so long as it meets the definition provided for in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756*. It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete the nomination form.

Award recipients will be chosen by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee and announced in September. This year's recipient will be recognized at the Committee's Celebrate Pro Bono Week Dinner on October 18th in Danville.

The nominations deadline is Wednesday, September 13th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Abigail Causer by email or at 217-693-6017.

Having trouble seeing the form? Click here »

Past Award Recipients:

James Mulvaney (2022)

James finished his professional career as Vice President, Market and Trust Manager at First Financial Bank, N.A. in Terra Haute, Indiana. After retiring, James decided to do senior health insurance program counseling through a local care provider. James has helped this program get off the ground through assisting seniors with legal needs such as assisting a client obtain guardianship of their mother. James obtained his Bachelors of Finance and Business Economics from Notre Dame and graduated from DePaul University School of Law.

Judy Baker (2021)
David Ryan (2020)
Brent Holmes (2019)
Hallie Bezner (2018)
Richard Dahlenburg (2018)
Kevin Dixon (2018)
Alia Horwick (2018)
Kaylan Huber (2018)
Sandra Lawlyes (2018)
Andrew Mudd (2018)
Kent Heller (2017)
Jason Hortenstine (2016)
Carton Kagawa (2016)
Kevin Colombo (2015)
Karen Fuqua (2014)
Richard M. Kash, Jr. (2013)
Paul E. Wieck (2012)

*Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(f) defines pro bono as: legal services without charge or expectation of a fee to persons of limited means; legal services to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental or educational organizations in matters designed to address the needs of persons of limited means; legal services to charitable, religious, civic or community organizations in furtherance of their organizational purpose; or training intended to benefit legal aid organizations or lawyers who provide pro bono services. According to Rule 756(f), "persons of limited means" are not only those persons with household incomes below the federal poverty standard but also those persons frequently referred to as the “working poor.”