American Bar Association Section of Taxation Now Accepting Nominations for Janet Spragens Pro Bono Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Section of Taxation Pro Bono Award Committee is seeking nominations for the 2014 Janet Spragens Pro Bono Award.  This award was established in 2002 to recognize one or more individuals or law firms for outstanding and sustained achievements in pro bono activities in the tax law.  In 2007 the award was renamed in honor of the late Janet Spragens, who received the award in 2006 in recognition of her dedication to the development of low income taxpayer clinics throughout the United States.   

The criteria for selection of an individual recipient of the award are:  (i) the individual be a tax lawyer, whether living or deceased; (ii) the individual is or was a member of the Section of Taxation; and (iii) the individual has, through years of service, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to pro bono activities, particularly in the area of Federal and state taxation.

The criteria for selection of a law firm recipient are that:  (i) the law firm includes members of the Section of Taxation; and (ii) the law firm has, through years of service of its attorneys, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to pro bono activities, particularly in the area of Federal and state taxation.

Nominations, which should include a brief statement addressing how the nominee satisfies the above criteria, must be submitted by Friday, November 1, 2013 to Laura Newland, the Section of Taxation’s Pro Bono Counsel, at laura.newland@americanbar.org.  All nominations will be maintained in confidence by the Pro Bono Award Committee. 

The recipient of the 2014 Janet Spragens Pro Bono Award will be announced at the Tax Section’s Midyear Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. during the Plenary Luncheon on January 25, 2014.

The American Bar Association Section of Taxation is the largest professional association of tax lawyers, with approximately 23,000 members nationwide. Its goals include helping taxpayers better understand their rights and obligations under the tax laws and working to achieve a simplified tax system that is equitable and efficient.