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Detroit Bar Association Foundation Civic Leadership Award

This award recognizes Detroit Bar member solo practitioners, small law firms, and larger firms that demonstrate meaningful civic leadership and community service outside the courtroom.

Please direct any inquiries or nominations to Tracey Cooley at tcooley@detroitlawyer.org.

1. Purpose of the Award

  • Honor Detroit Bar member solo practitioners, small law firms, and larger law firms that make a meaningful impact through volunteerism, service, and community partnership.
  • Encourage Detroit Bar members to strengthen their communities through active service and collaboration with nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, schools, and other community-based initiatives.
  • Highlight lawyers and law practices as responsible community leaders whose service promotes public trust, goodwill, and positive relationships between the legal profession and the broader community.

2. Award Categories

To ensure fair recognition across different practice sizes, the award may be presented in two categories:

  • Solo Practitioner and Small Law Firm Civic Leadership Award: For a solo practitioner or small law firm, based on the size threshold established in the award guidelines.
  • Mid-Size and Large Law Firm Civic Leadership Award: For firms above the small firm threshold.
  • The Detroit Bar Association Foundation may define and revise firm size categories annually in the award guidelines.

3. Criteria for the Award

  • A minimum of 10% of the firm’s attorneys based in the greater Detroit area must be members of the Detroit Bar. The Detroit Bar Association Foundation may revise this percentage annually in the award guidelines.
  • Eligible service must involve actual participation by attorneys and staff, where applicable, in community activities or service initiatives that directly engage or benefit the public.
  • The award is intended to recognize hands-on service and community engagement. Financial donations, sponsorships, or in-kind support may be considered as part of the overall contribution, but they may not be the sole basis for the award.
  • Pro bono legal work may be considered as part of the applicant’s broader service record. However, the award should primarily recognize civic and community service activities that extend beyond the delivery of legal services.
  • In evaluating nominations, consideration should be given to the size and resources of the practice so that solo practitioners and small firms are assessed fairly in light of their capacity.

4. Presentation of the Award

  • The award recipient or recipients will be recognized at the Annual Dennis Archer Public Service Award Dinner.
  • Honorees may be invited and encouraged to support the event through ticket/table purchases, sponsorships, or program advertisements, but such participation shall not influence award selection.
  • The award creates an additional opportunity to highlight the community impact of Detroit Bar members and generate positive media attention for both the honoree and the Detroit Bar.
  • The award may be presented in the form of a plaque, acrylic award, or other commemorative recognition.

5. Selection of Award Recipient

  • The Detroit Bar Association Board and the Detroit Bar Association Foundation Board may solicit nominees.
  • The Detroit Bar Association Foundation Executive Board or designated committee will review nominations.
  • Nominations should include, as applicable: a description of the community service activities performed; relevant dates and locations of service activities; the names of nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, schools, or other community partners involved; the number of attorneys and staff who participated, where applicable; and any additional community service contributions made by the nominee.
  • In selecting the recipient, the reviewing bodies may consider the consistency and quality of the nominee’s community engagement, the significance and impact of the service provided, the level of participation by the nominee’s attorneys and staff, where applicable, and the nominee’s size and available resources so that solo practitioners, small firms, and larger firms are evaluated equitably.

Detroit Bar Association Foundation Board of Trustees approved on March 18, 2026