Recognizing Superior Service in Public Service Oriented Lawyer Referral and Information Programs
Established by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Service in 1996, the award is named for Cindy A. Raisch, an innovator and national leader in the quest to improve the quality of service provided by Lawyer Referral and Information Services.
The award recognizes the enhancement of public service-oriented lawyer referral and information programs that provide access for moderate income consumers across the country. Public service-oriented programs provide an invaluable service to the consumer seeking an avenue of entry to the legal system that is based on the consumer’s actual legal needs and information on non-legal sources of help if those would be more appropriate to the problem.
The nominee should be any individual, group or organization, who has demonstrated exceptional achievement(s) or for superior service to, or support of, a public service-oriented lawyer referral and information program.
Award Criteria
The award shall recognize:
- Demonstrated superior efforts in revising or restructuring an existing program;
- A major program innovation or development of an innovative program concept that increases the public’s access to appropriate legal and non-legal services; or
- A superior lawyer referral and information program worthy of emulation.
The award shall not be given solely for sustained superior performance of regular activities.
Nomination Guidelines
A nomination submission should include the following:
I. Nomination Information Sheet. The nomination information sheet should be submitted as the cover sheet of the nomination package.
II. Nominee Resume or Organizational Information. The nomination package must include a resume or similar document that describes the candidate’s professional background and achievements and other relevant activities. For organizations, a brochure or information sheet outlining the program should be included.
III. Award Criteria Narrative and Supporting Material. In no more than three typed pages, address the following criteria, providing specific, concrete examples for at least one of the efforts in numbers 1-3:
- Demonstrated superior effort in revising or restructuring an existing program;
- Developed and implemented a major program innovation or program concept that increases the public’s access to appropriate legal and non-legal services; or
- Exemplified superior lawyer referral and information program standards and practices worthy of emulation.
In addition, you may include news or magazine articles written about the nominee and no more than five letters of support from individuals or organizations.
Nomination submissions and materials supplied as exhibits cannot be returned.
IV. Please submit nominations electronically, via email to Briana.Billingslea@americanbar.org. If any portion of the supporting materials is submitted in the form of original print materials, please include 12 copies.
Submissions must be received in the ABA offices by June 30, 2017.
Nomination Information
2017 Nomination Information
Please provide the following information on a cover sheet.
Name of Individual/Group/Organization Nominated:
Address of Nominee:
Nominee Telephone:
Project/Program Title:
Contact Person/Title:
Contact Person Address:
Contact Person Telephone (day and evening):
CATEGORIES (Please indicate one category that most closely describes the area of achievement for the nomination):
Superior effort in revising or restructuring an existing program;
Major program innovation or development or development of a new program concept;
Superior lawyer referral and information program worthy of emulation.
Please attach nomination memorandum and any supporting materials. Submissions must be received by June 30, 2017.
Selection Process
The Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Service will review the nominations and, if appropriate, select one award recipient in a given year. Meritorious Recognition certificates may also be granted in any given year at the Committee’s discretion. The Committee may decide not to present an award if the nominations do not meet the stated award criteria.
Award Presentation
The award recipient will be notified by August 1, 2017. The award will be presented at a luncheon during the 2017 Lawyer Referral Workshop in Portland, OR.
Contact Information
Please submit all materials to:
Briana Morris
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark St., 17th floor
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
(312) 988-5298
Briana.Morris@americanbar.org