The CBF Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP) was honored to be one of three programs to receive the 2021 E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award from the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism at the ABA Annual meeting earlier this month. This is just the latest national recognition for the JEP since the CBF launched the program in 2013, underscoring that the JEP continues to be an international model for legal innovation and access to justice.
The Gambrell Award recognizes exemplary, innovative, and ongoing professionalism programs established by law schools, bar associations, courts and other legal organizations that help ensure the maintenance of the highest principles of integrity and dedication to the legal profession and the public and comes with a $3,500 honorarium. The other two recipients this year were the Florida International University College of Law for its Well-Being at FIU Law program and the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law for its LRW Student Outreach Program.
Professionalism is a core element of the JEP. All participants begin the program with a six-month, part-time pro bono residency at one of our partner legal aid organizations where they do pro bono work and develop substantive knowledge and skills under a supervising attorney in an area in which they want to practice. In month seven of the program, the JEP pairs each participant up with an experienced JEP graduate who then serves as their mentor and guide for the remainder of the program. Throughout the program, other mentorship relationships form through the JEP network, and the CBF also facilitates additional mentoring connections when helpful. JEP attorneys also regularly present at CLE programs, serve on committees, engage in advocacy to improve the profession, and otherwise engage in the greater legal community.