Attorneys for Justice
2022 marks the ninth year that the Tennessee Supreme Court has recognized Attorneys and Law Students for Justice. In an effort to increase the number of attorneys and law offices providing pro bono services to those who cannot afford legal costs, the Tennessee Supreme Court has an extensive recognition program. The Court honors all attorneys providing at least 50 hours of service annually, with a goal of increasing statewide pro bono work to 50 percent participation.
In the program, attorneys meeting the Court’s minimum goal of 50 pro bono hours annually will be named “Attorneys for Justice” by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The program is entirely voluntary and based on self-reporting. You will be considered for recognition should you voluntarily report the pro bono work you did the previous calendar year when you renew your legal license with the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). To be considered for the program, all service must have been provided under the provisions of Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Responsibility, which includes delivery of a substantial portion of legal services without fee or expectation of fee and delivery of legal services at no fee or at a substantially reduced fee to recognized groups and individuals.
Attorneys who have already renewed their legal license with the BPR but did not report their pro bono work may submit an application for recognition directly to the AOC.
Attorneys who wish to apply for recognition as 2022 Attorneys for Justice for pro bono work completed in 2021 should complete the application here.
Law offices are eligible to be recognized for pro bono work done by their attorneys by submitting an application for recognition directly to the AOC. The 2022 law office application is available here.
2022 Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll
The 2022 Attorneys for Justice Honor Roll is available here
Applications to be recognized as a 2023 Attorney for Justice will be available in July 2023. Attorneys may also report their pro bono with BPR.
Recognition Updates
The Tennessee Supreme Court and Access to Justice Commission will resume in-person recognition events in the Fall of 2023. Attorneys, law firms, and law students that were recognized in the past three years as Attorneys for Justice will be invited to participate in the first in-person recognition event since 2019.
Look for an announcement on these events beginning in late Summer. There will also be an announcement made as part of Celebrate Pro Bono Month in October to expand the pro bono recognition program.
Mediators for Justice
Beginning in 2021, in an effort to increase the number of mediators providing pro bono services to those who cannot afford dispute resolution costs in the judicial system, the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted a new recognition program. The Court honors all actively listed Rule 31 Mediators providing at least 50 hours of service a year, with a goal of increasing statewide pro bono work.
In the program, mediators completing the Court’s minimum goal of 50 pro bono hours annually will be named “Mediators for Justice” by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The program is entirely voluntary and based on self-reporting. You will be considered for recognition should you report the pro bono work you did the previous calendar year before you renew your listing for the upcoming calendar year.
To be considered for the program, all services must have been reported in the ADR Portal using the “Submit a Rule 31 Report” tool on the home screen. Please file all mediations conducted for that year before you submit the renewal form online, regardless of the disposition status. Then, please select “Yes” in response to the question “Do you wish to be recognized in the pro bono mediation program?” on the renewal form. Rule 31 Mediators who have already renewed their listing(s) for the new calendar year will be directly notified if they meet (or are close to meeting) the 50 hour threshold.
Mediators for Justice will be formally recognized at the Advanced Mediation Techniques Workshop held annually every October. Each honoree will also receive a Certificate of Recognition and be permanently inducted into the honor roll below.
2020 Mediators for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll
The 2020 Mediators for Justice Honor Roll is available here.
2021 Mediators for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll
The 2021 Mediators for Justice Honor Roll is available here.
2022 Mediators for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll
The 2022 Mediators for Justice Honor Roll is available here.
Law Students for Justice
The Court will recognize law students for their demonstrated commitment to providing legal services to those in need. The program seeks to acknowledge any student at a Tennessee law school who performs 50 or more hours of pro bono work during their law school career as a “Law Student for Justice.” The program is similar to the attorney recognition program.
To be considered for the program, all service must have been provided under the provisions of Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Responsibility, which includes delivery of a substantial portion of legal services without fee or expectation of fee and delivery of legal services at no fee or at a substantially reduced fee to recognized groups and individuals. Clinic work and other experiential learning courses where students receive course credit will not count towards pro bono work for recognition purposes.
Each school is responsible for verifying students’ participation in the pro bono activities and reporting it to the Administrative Office of the Courts for consideration. Law School Administrators should send the full name, e-mail address, and mailing address for eligible graduates to ATJInfo@tncourts.gov.
2021 Law Students for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll
The 2021 Law Students for Justice Honor Roll will be available soon.
Supreme Court Pro Bono Recognition
Attorneys and Law Students being recognized as 2021 Attorneys for Justice and 2021 Law Students for Justice are invited to submit information, a photo, and a story of their pro bono work to be recognized virtually in the upcoming months.
Click here to submit information, a photo, and a story of pro bono.
The program is the result of a recommendation by the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, which is tasked with making such recommendations to the Supreme Court of projects and programs necessary for enhancing access to justice. For additional information or if you have any questions, please contact Anne-Louise Wirthlin, Director of Access to Justice, at the Administrative Office of the Courts, at ATJInfo@tncourts.gov or 615-741-2687.