Nominations now open for the 2010 Justice Awards

The annual Justice Awards recognise the contributions individuals have made to improving access to justice, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW.

Nominate now for the:

Justice Medal
Aboriginal Justice Award
Law and Justice Volunteer Award
Pro Bono Partnership Award

These Awards, along with the LIAC Centre of Excellence, Community Legal Centres NSW and Law Society President’s Awards will be presented at Parliament House on 14 October 2010.
The closing date for nominations is Friday 23 July 2010. Please contact the Foundation if you wish to submit a nomination after this date.

JUSTICE MEDAL

The Justice Medal is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in improving access to justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. This may have been demonstrated in a range of activities over an extended period, or work over a shorter period but of exceptional impact.

The Justice Medal judging panel is seeking nominations for living nominees that address the following selection criteria:

• Outstanding achievement in improving access to justice ?How the nominees’s achievement in improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people been outstanding
• Improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW?How has the person’s achievement substantially benefited socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW?
• Range of work over an extended period or work over a shorter period but of exceptional impact ?What is the range of work over an extended period or work over a shorter period but of excetional impact that demonstrates the nominee’s outstanding achievment in improving access to justice?
• Outstanding achievement above the call of duty ?Is the nominee’s outstanding achievement within the expected role of the nominee or is there an ingredient that takes it above and beyond the expected role of the nominee?
• Standing of the nominee in their particular community ?Can the two referees named in the nomination demonstrate/comment on the standing of the nominee in their paticular community for their outstanding acheievment in improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW?

THE ABORIGINAL JUSTICE AWARD

The Aboriginal Justice Award supported by the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW. It is presented to an Aboriginal individual or a group of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people in NSW. This may have been demonstrated in a range of activities over an extended period, or in a single significant activity.

The Aboriginal Justice Award judging panel is seeking nominations for living nominees that address the following selection criteria:

• Outstanding commitment to improving access to justice?
• How has nominees’s commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people been outstanding?
• Improving access to justice for Aboriginal people in NSW
• ?How has the person’s commitment substantially benefited Aboriginal people in NSW?
• Range of activities over an extended period or a single significant activity
• What is the range of activities over an extended period or the single significant activity that demonstrates the nominee’s outstanding commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people?
• Outstanding commitment above the call of duty
• ?Is the nominee’s outstanding commitment within the expected role of the nominee or is there an ingredient that takes it above and beyond the expected role of the nominee?
• Standing of the nominee in their particular community
• Can the two referees named in the nomination demonstrate/comment on the standing of the nominee in their paticular community for their outstanding acheievment in improving access to justice for Aboriginal people in NSW

THE LAW AND JUSTICE VOLUNTEER AWARD

The Law and Justice Volunteer Award is sponsored by the NSW Bar Association. It is presented to an individual or group of individuals who, in a voluntary capacity, have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving access to justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. This may have been demonstrated in a range of activities over an extended period, or in a single significant activity.

The Law and Justice Volunteer Award judging panel is seeking nominations for living nominees who are not legal practitioners. Nominators must address the following selection criteria:

• Outstanding commitment to improving access to justice
• ?How has the person’s commitment, in a voluntary capacity, been outstanding in improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people?
• Improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW?
• How has the person’s commitment, in a voluntary capacity, substantially benefited socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW?
• Range of activities over an extended period or a single significant activity
• What is the range of activities over an extended period or a single significant activity that demonstrates the nominee’s outstanding commitment, in a voluntary capacity, to improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people in NSW?
• Standing of the nominee in their particular community
• ?Can the two referees named in the nomination demonstrate/comment on the standing of the nominee in their paticular community for their outstanding commitment, in a voluntary capacity, to improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantged people in NSW?

PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP AWARD

The Pro Bono Partnership Award is sponsored by the National Pro Bono Resource Centre. It is presented to a partnership comprising a private law firm, community organisation and/or community legal centre in NSW which has developed an outstanding pro bono legal assistance relationship, resulting in improved access to justice for disadvantaged people in the community.

The Pro Bono Partnership Award judging panel is seeking nominations that address the following selection criteria in order of importance:

The innovative nature of the relationship and the forms of pro bono assistance provided?

• What aspects of the relationship and the assistance provided are innovative, unique or exceptional?
• The success of the partnership in delivering services to a particular community
• ?To what extent has the partnership led to the better delivery of services to members of the community?
• The duration of the partnership
• How long has the partnership been in place?