The Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award

Award Criteria

A selection committee will choose the recipient by determining which nominee best meets the following criteria:

• The nominee must be a Chicago area licensed attorney who is employed by a nonprofit legal aid or public interest law organization.
• Excellence in the quality of their work and the length and breadth of their career in public service; past Morsch Award recipients have worked at legal aid or public interest law organizations for a minimum of 15 years.
• Innovation in the delivery of legal services;
• Leadership within the agency by which they are employed; and
• Lack of public recognition for their dedicated efforts.

How to Nominate

To nominate someone for this award, submit the online form below together with any of the following documents by Friday, May 1st, 2026:

• A narrative stating why you are nominating this individual. This narrative should include a summary of how the nominee meets the award criteria.
• A current copy of the individual’s resume or biography
• A maximum of three support letters
• Any relevant information about the nominee, such as newspaper articles or blog posts.

If you have any questions or would like to submit additional materials, please contact CBF Director of Pro Bono & Training, Sarah Blair, at sblair@chicagobarfoundation.org.