Dorsey Award Nominations

About

The Dorsey Award recognizes exceptional work by a public defender or legal aid lawyer. The Award was established as a tribute to the late Charles H. Dorsey, Jr., long-time Executive Director of Maryland's Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., a champion of the poor and underprivileged and, at the time of his death, the Chair-Elect of the Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division. Eligible recipients are lawyers who serve indigent persons, in the employ of legal aid bureaus, indigent defense, or Legal Services Corporation funded legal organizations providing legal service to the disadvantaged. To be eligible, nominees must be employed by an entity that receives government funding.

2025 Nominations Process

Please email your nomination as a PDF document to [email protected]. Please put "Award Submission" in the subject line. Nominations are due by 5:00 pm Eastern on April 7, 2025.

Nominee Information Required^*

1. Full name, title, address, telephone number, e-mail address of nominee, and percentage of funding provided to the nominee's office by the government. Also, provide a complete list of the states/jurisdictions (including bar admission dates) in which the nominee is licensed to practice law.
2. Summary of nominee's outstanding service and/or achievements (25 to 100 words).
   
3. Detailed narrative explanation of the nominee's service including the following information: how the nominee's service is outstanding, significant and "above the call of duty”; the time frame of the service; and assessment of the impact of the extraordinary service. (600 to 800 words).
   
4. Contact information for three references who are familiar with nominee's achievements.
   
5. Specifically for the nominator: provide contact information and a brief statement about yourself including any information that would assist the Awards Committee in evaluating the nomination. 
   

^{* The Awards Committee is unable to review supplemental materials in addition to what is required above.}