Awards

Schiff Hardin and its lawyers have received numerous pro bono awards in recent years, including:

2008 Pro Bono Award — Awarded by the Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc. for outstanding efforts to make the legal system accessible to the poor.
Ninth Annual Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service (May 2008) — Two Schiff Hardin associates, Joshua D. Lee and Amy M. Rubenstein, received these honors from the Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
2007 Animal Protection Litigation Award — Awarded by The Humane Society of the United States for outstanding pro bono litigation on behalf of animals.
Special Recognition — Schiff Hardin was honored by the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice and the national Appleseed network for its outstanding pro bono achievements and commitment to pro bono causes at the "Building Strong Communities" dinner. Schiff Hardin was a Benefactor of the dinner, and Fred Sperling, a partner in our Litigation Group, was a co-chair of the event.
2007 Award for pro bono services on behalf of Guantanamo Bay detainees — The National Legal Aid and Defender Program
2006 Pro Bono Scorecard — The American Lawyer ranked Schiff Hardin's pro bono program number 51 out of the top 200 U.S. law firms and among the top Chicago-based law firms.
Father Cuchulain Moriarty Award — Awarded by the Lawyers' Committee of the San Francisco Bay Area to attorneys now at Schiff Hardin.

This award recognized grants of asylum for three incest survivors from Guatemala. The first win, in 2004, followed 2-1/2 years of litigation in the immigration court. The immigration judge’s detailed decision set forth a novel legal analysis and held that "Guatemalan females stigmatized as mentally deficient" are a "particular social group" worthy of protection under the Refugee Convention.
Special Recognition — The Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Schiff Hardin received this recognition in 2006, commemorating the 30th anniversary of our role in landmark litigation challenging racial discrimination in hiring and promotion by the Chicago Police Department.
2006 Volunteer of the Year Award — The Pro Bono Center for Disability and Elder Law
2006 Annual Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Award — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Atticus Finch Award — Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation

Schiff Hardin received this award in 2004, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Schiff Hardin/Howard Area Community Center Legal Clinic — the first time that a law firm has received this high honor. The award, which is not awarded annually, is given to a person or entity that exemplifies the legal profession's highest ideals.
2004 Pro Bono Initiative Honor Roll Award — The Public Interest Law Initiative
Lifetime Achievement Award — Awarded to Roger Pascal, who chairs Schiff Hardin's Litigation Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 from the American Civil Liberties Union, honoring his lifelong commitment to working for and defending civil liberties through his work at the ACLU and other organizations.
Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award — Awarded in 2003 to Roger Pascal from the Chicago Bar Foundation for his pro bono work.
Award of Appreciation and Gratitude — Presented to Schiff Hardin by the Dodo Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen for pro bono services with respect to their trademarks and copyrights in 2003.
Volunteer Service Award — The Glenkirk Foundation, 1998 and 2002.
AIDS Legal Counsel of Chicago Award — Awarded to Schiff Hardin by the AIDS Legal Counsel of Chicago in 1999.
Biggest Heart Award — Awarded to Schiff Hardin by The Hearts Foundation in 1999.
Volunteer of the Year Award — The Howard Brown Health Center Legal Services awarded Schiff Hardin in 1997.
Outstanding efforts to make the legal system accessible to the poor — Recognized by The Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Clinic's in 1996.