The State Bar’s Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee is seeking nominations for the 2026 Pro Bono Excellence Awards. These awards recognize legal professionals who are committed to providing legal services to the poor in Texas. Awards are presented at the State Bar Annual Meeting.

Attorney nominees must be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. Additional materials such as news stories, magazine articles, or documents may be included with an Award Nomination Form. Nomination packets should be limited to ten pages. Please send your nomination packet to probono@texasbar.com. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. on February 20, 2026. For more information about these awards, contact the Legal Access Department at probono@texasbar.com or 512-427-1855.

Frank J. Scurlock Award
Named for the first chair of the Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee, the Frank J. Scurlock Award honors an individual attorney who has provided outstanding pro bono work. Scurlock was known for his tireless efforts to provide legal services to the poor. Download the nomination form here.

J. Chrys Dougherty Legal Services Award
This award recognizes an outstanding attorney employed by a non-profit, legal aid program delivering direct legal services to low-income Texans at no cost. The award is named for J. Chrys Dougherty, whose efforts built a working partnership between the State Bar of Texas and legal services providers. The award includes a $4,000 stipend, part of which is a contribution from the Texas Bar Foundation. Download the nomination form here.

Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award
The Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award honors a judge, sitting or retired, who has provided exemplary pro bono service, including: outreach to attorneys to increase the quantity and quality of pro bono representation; modifications to court processes to increase access to justice; advocacy on behalf of access to justice; or service as a volunteer judge for pro bono clinics or other pro bono proceedings. The award is named after the late Judge Merrill Hartman of Dallas, a tireless advocate for low-income communities’ access to justice. Download the nomination form here.

Pro Bono Award
The Pro Bono Award honors a volunteer attorney organization that has made an outstanding contribution toward guaranteeing access to the legal system by the poor. Download the nomination form here.

Pro Bono Coordinator Award
The Pro Bono Coordinator Award is presented to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to access of legal services for the poor, while serving as the pro bono coordinator for a volunteer attorney organization or group, local bar association, law firm, law school, corporate legal office, governmental law department, or legal services organization. Attorney and non-attorney pro bono coordinators are eligible and may self-nominate. Download the nomination form here.

W. Frank Newton Award 
The W. Frank Newton Award recognizes the pro bono contribution of attorney groups whose members have made an outstanding contribution in the access of legal services to the poor. The award is named for W. Frank Newton, former Dean of Texas Tech University School of Law and long-time pro bono advocate. Download the nomination form here.

Pro Bono Support Staff Award
The Pro Bono Support Staff Award recognizes the outstanding and exemplary contributions of non-attorney volunteers who work on pro bono projects. The award promotes the awareness of pro bono activities that non-attorneys can participate in and encourages non-attorneys who work in the legal profession to volunteer their time and specialty skills to pro bono projects within their community. To qualify for this award, an individual must provide legal assistance, without compensation, in a non-mandatory program, that requires specific legal skills, knowledge, or training, under the supervision of a licensed attorney or qualified organization. Download the nomination form here.