The Excellence Awards both celebrate and recognize the exceptional efforts of our Network's advocates, private bar partners, and community leaders. Each year, we gather to honor these trailblazers, whose dedication to civil legal aid paves the way toward justice and equality for marginalized and low-income residents of Pennsylvania. It is a cherished time for our community, as it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the collective impact of our work, celebrate our successes, and show our appreciation for those who embody our mission of justice for all.

Nominations are accepted beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day through the last Friday in October. Winners are announced in December and awards are presented at our Excellence Awards event, held in March. We invite you to explore our list of prior award recipients, including recipients of the former Striving Towards Excellence Awards, as well as check out details about the Excellence Awards in prior years. 
 

In-Network Nomination Categories

(Open to current employees of legal aid organizations within the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network)

• Emerging Excellence in Advocacy Award

This award recognizes legal professionals from our Network who, within their first 10 years of practice or less, have already made significant strides in championing the rights of indigent and underserved Pennsylvanians. The impact of their work underscores the potential for change and heralds a more just legal future.

• Outstanding Attorney Advocate Award

This award honors attorneys within our Network who embody the highest standards of commitment and compassion in the pursuit of equal justice. Through their advocacy, leadership, and unwavering dedication, they inspire hope and create lasting, positive change for their clients and communities.

• Outstanding Non-Attorney Advocate Award

This award celebrates the indispensable contributions of non-attorney staff in our Network who play a crucial role in advancing our mission. Whether working in fiscal, communications, development, intake, outreach, technology, administrative roles, or as paralegals, these individuals help to shape and strengthen the communities we serve.

• Outstanding Systemic Advocacy Award

This award is reserved for projects and initiatives that create measurable, impactful change within the legal system, fundamentally altering structures to better serve those in need. It recognizes efforts such as legal reforms, policy changes, or landmark precedents that have achieved significant, far-reaching benefits for large populations. Nominations must highlight legal achievements with broad, transformative effects, instead of focusing on the coalitions or partnerships involved.
 

Out-of-Network Nomination Categories

(Open to individuals and groups whose work extends beyond the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network)

• Outstanding Community Advocacy Award

This award pays tribute to clients, community leaders, legislators, and non-attorney volunteers who amplify the mission of civil legal aid. Recipients advocate for and empower those around them, and their efforts stand as a testament to the profound impact community figures make daily.

• Outstanding Pro Bono Advocacy Award

This award celebrates our private bar partners—associations, attorneys, law firms, and judges—who have shown a deep commitment to justice through the provision of pro bono services or by securing vital funding for civil legal aid in Pennsylvania. Eligible candidates must be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and not employed by free or low-cost legal service providers.