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Annual IBA Pro Bono Award

Supported by LexisNexis

The IBA Pro Bono Committee annually presents an award to a lawyer who is leading our profession in building a pro bono culture. The award is free to enter and it is open to all lawyers, whether or not they are members of the IBA.

Application details

Each year, the IBA Pro Bono Committee honour a lawyer who has shown an outstanding commitment to pro bono work as part of their legal career.

The IBA Pro Bono Committee’s mission is to support the IBA in promoting pro bono work globally through implementation of the IBA Pro Bono Declaration and the exchange of information and the promotion of best practice. Pro bono work is a cornerstone of the legal profession, and the IBA Pro Bono Committee wants to help build a culture of pro bono work by lawyers, law firms and organisations of lawyers as a vehicle for access to justice where that right is not fully supported by legal aid.

LexisNexis is honoured to support the Annual IBA Pro Bono Award

The application process for the Award is now CLOSED for 2021. ​​​​​​​

2021 Winner

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​​​​​​​The IBA Annual Pro Bono Award  was presented at the IBA Global Showcase week during the SPPI Awards  Ceremony  on Thursday 28 October. The Award, supported by LexisNexis, seeks to honour those who have shown outstanding commitment to pro bono work. Pictured is 2021 winner Geoff Budlender, who has been recognised for his dedication to pro bono causes in South Africa. Over the course of a 45-year career in the law, Mr Budlender’s legal work has helped millions of people in the country, including victims of apartheid-era law, babies born to HIV positive mothers and children affected by school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. ​​​​​​​

View awards ceremony

Previous Winners

Congratulations to Ishrat Hasan, winner of the 2020 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!

Congratulations to Cecil Rajendra, winner of the 2019 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
Congratulations to Baasanjargal Khurelbaatar, winner of the 2018 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
Congratulations to Balazs Sahin-Toth, winner of the 2017 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
Congratulations to Odette Geldenhuys, winner of the 2016 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!

Congratulations to Marcos Fuchs, winner of the 2015 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!

  • Congratulations to Nick Paul, winner of the 2014 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
  • Congratulations to Susan Finegan, winner of the 2013 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
  • Congratulations to Tong Lihua, winner of the 2012 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
  • Congratulations to Flavia Regina de Souza Oliveira, winner of the 2011 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!
  • Congratulations to Angeline Welsh, winner of the 2010 Annual IBA Pro Bono Award!