Annual IBA Pro Bono Award

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

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.

2023 Recipient


The recipient of the International Bar Association (IBA) Pro Bono Award for 2023 has been announced as María Fernanda Mierez, Partner at Argentinian law firm Beccar Varela. She is honoured for her 20-year dedication to pro bono legal work, including the co-founding of a pro bono programme within Beccar Varela and the establishment of structures such as the Young Lawyers Pro Bono Network in Argentina, which aims to encourage a new generation of practitioners to get involved with legal aid.

When notified about the award, Ms Mierez remarked: ‘I am very grateful for this recognition. Pro bono work connects us with our career purpose; it is the responsibility of every lawyer to facilitate people’s access to their individual rights, especially the most vulnerable. This award also represents all the pro bono work that the firm has been carrying out for many years, reflecting the values we hold.’

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Previous Recipients


Congratulations to Elba Gutiérrez, the 2022 winner of the Annual IBA Pro Bono Award.

Congratulations to Geoff Budlender, the 2021 winner of the Annual IBA Pro Bono Award.

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!