Nominations for TBA's Public Service Awards should summarize the accomplishments and reasons for nominating this individual. The narrative should describe with specificity how the nominee meets the criteria of the award. Honorees are selected based on the narrative provided in response to the criteria below. Nominators should advocate for the nominees: explain their accomplishments and describe both how they set the nominees apart from colleagues in their field and how they have benefited the community. Provide specific examples and avoid generalizations as much as possible. Supplemental documentation including letters of support or news items may be submitted with the nomination. 

Return to the Public Service Awards page for more information and nomination forms.

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Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award

This award is given to an attorney in private or corporate practice who has contributed significant amounts of pro bono work, either in terms of numbers of cases handled or significance of the work, as well as one who demonstrates dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to indigent clients. In 1995, the award name was changed to honor Harris A. Gilbert, a Nashville attorney and past president of the Tennessee Bar Association. Gilbert was consistently dedicated to the development and delivery of legal services throughout his career. He died in February 2023. 

Criteria:

(1) The nominee should have contributed a significant amount of pro bono work, either in terms of number of cases handled or significance of the work

(2) The casework for which the nomination shall be considered should have occurred within the past three years;

(3) The nominee should have been employed in private practice or a corporate setting during the period that nominated casework occurred; and

(4) The nominee should have demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to low-income and otherwise marginalized clients.

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Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award

This award is given to an attorney for representation above and beyond the call of duty of an indigent client, in either criminal or civil defense and who are or were employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent. In 2008, the award name was changed to honor Ashley T. Wiltshire on his retirement from the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. Wiltshire faithfully served the agency in various roles for 37 years, including 31 years as executive director.

Criteria:

(1) The nominee should have represented an indigent client in either civil or criminal defense;

(2) The casework for which the nomination shall be considered should have occurred within the past two years; and

(3) The nominee should have been employed by an organization that is primarily engaged in providing legal representation to the indigent or marginalized during the period that nominated casework occurred.

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Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award Criteria

This award recognizes the efforts of a student enrolled at or recently graduated fron a Tennessee law school who provided dedicated and outstanding pro bono service while working with an organization primarily engaged in providing legal representation to indigent clients.

Criteria:

(1) The nominee should be a student currently enrolled at a Tennessee law school or have graduated in the past year;

(2) The nominee should have provided dedicated and outstanding pro bono service while enrolled in a Tennessee law school; and

(3) The nominee should have provided the service while working with an organization primarily engaged in providing legal representation to indigent or marginalized clients.