The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network’s Excellence Awards is an annual event that celebrates members within our legal aid community as well as private bar partners and community leaders who exemplify excellence in their efforts to expand access to legal services for marginalized and low-income communities in Pennsylvania.

Awards are given in the following categories:

BEST LEGAL SERVICES ADVOCACY

Nominations for the three Best Legal Services Advocacy awards are open to all staff who are currently employed by a program of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

• Best Attorney Advocate Award

This category is open to attorneys who work for a program of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

• Best Non-Attorney Advocate Award

This category is open to non-attorney staff who work for a program of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

• Best Systemic Advocacy Award

This category is open to a group, person, or project, that is part of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

BEST PRO BONO ADVOCACY AWARD

Nominations for the Best in Pro Bono Advocacy Award are open to lawyers, judges, law firms, and bar associations that have made significant contributions in the provision of pro bono legal services. Nominees must be admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and may not be an employee of an organization providing free or low-cost legal services to the poor.

BEST COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AWARD

This category is open to clients, community leaders, legislators, and legal aid advocates working in programs outside of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. It recognizes individuals whose efforts have helped to expand access to legal services for low-income people. Nominees for this category may not currently be employed at a program in the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

Each year, nominations are accepted from the Tuesday after Labor Day until the last Friday in October. Winners are announced in December and celebrated at the Excellence Awards event in March. A list of prior award recipients, including recipients of the former Striving Towards Excellence Award, is available to view by year.

For specific information about this year’s event, visit the Excellence Awards page on our website.