Pro Bono Honors

Mintz has an unwavering commitment to providing outstanding pro bono services. We’re proud to make a difference for our pro bono clients. And we’re honored to have received many awards recognizing the dedicated pro bono work of our attorneys and staff. To learn more about our pro bono work over the last year, click the link below.

Select Firm Awards and Recognition

Domestic and Gender-based Violence

The American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar Associations, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Elizabeth Stone House, Jane Doe, Inc., National Network to End Domestic Violence, Victim Rights Law Center, The Second Step, and several other organizations have honored Mintz and multiple individual attorneys for their outstanding representation of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.

Specifically, the American Bar Association awarded Mintz its Pro Bono Publico Award for the firm’s work leading to the passage of a sexual assault, stalking, and harassment law in Massachusetts.

Mintz Levin received the Corporate Leadership Award at the annual Victim Rights Awards Ceremony of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance and the Victim Witness Assistance Board. The award acknowledged the firm's notable contributions to advancing victim rights and services and making a difference in the lives of victims and survivors in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court awarded Mintz’s Alec Zadek the prestigious Adams Pro Bono Publico Award for his leadership on the firm’s work on behalf of victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence, including the passage of legislation that streamlines the process for sex trafficking victims to vacate their related convictions for prostitution or drug possession.

Additionally, Mintz’s Sue Finegan is a recipient of the International Bar Association Pro Bono Award for the firm’s impactful pro bono work relating to domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Boston Bar Association presented Mintz with the Thurgood Marshall Award for extraordinary pro bono service in recognition of Mintz’s Domestic Violence Project.

Immigration

Mintz has been honored with several awards from the Political Asylum Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project in recognition of the firm’s longstanding partnership. Mintz was awarded the Pro Bono Law Firm Award at the annual PAIR Gala, commending the firm on its nearly three decades of support for asylum seekers. PAIR honored Mintz for its work, starting with its representation of the first PAIR asylum client in 1990.

PAIR named Mintz and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts as co-recipients of the Pro Bono Mentor Award in recognition of the groundbreaking victory for immigrants’ rights when Chief U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris ruled that the government’s practice of detaining certain immigrants by default violates both due process and the Administrative Procedure Act in Pereira Brito v. Barr.

In recognition of the firm’s work serving vulnerable people fleeing to the U.S. border, Mintz was selected alongside a handful of other firms for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s Beacon of Justice Award.

Mintz has won awards from the City of Boston and Human Rights First in recognition of the firm and individual attorneys’ extensive immigration work representing asylum seekers and children classified as Special Immigrant Juveniles by the federal government.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) awarded Joanne Hawana Pro Bono Advocate of the year, recognizing her outstanding efforts assisting unaccompanied children.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court awarded Mintz’s Susan Cohen as well as a former attorney the prestigious Adams Pro Bono Publico Award for the firm’s outstanding efforts on behalf of pro bono immigration clients.

The firm and several attorneys were also recognized by the American Immigration Lawyers Association New England Chapter for serving as co-counsel in challenging President Trump’s first immigration executive order “travel ban.”

Disaster Relief

The Mississippi Center for Justice has recognized Mintz with several awards for its outstanding efforts on behalf of low-income residents of Mississippi needing legal assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court awarded the firm its Adams Pro Bono Publico Award for its work on behalf of low-income residents of Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, most notably its contribution to obtaining a $213 million financial settlement for 5,253 victims whose homes had been destroyed by the storm.

Legal Services / General Pro Bono

Several Mintz attorneys have won awards from the Boston Bar Association, the Center for Legal Aid Education, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Lawyer’s Clearinghouse, New York City Family Court Volunteer Attorney Program, and the US Bankruptcy Court for their advocacy and commitment to providing pro bono legal services to underserved populations.

Lawyers Clearinghouse awarded Mintz its annual Pro Bono Excellence Award in recognition of the firm’s work providing civil legal assistance to homeless and very-low-income individuals and families, collaboration with the Clearinghouse on the Clinic in a Box program, and creation and continued support of the Access to Justice Fellows Program.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court awarded Sue Finegan the inaugural Ralph D. Gants Award for Extraordinary Leadership in Pro Bono Services in recognition of her extraordinary leadership in pro bono legal services and dedication to improving access to justice over the course of her career.

The Massachusetts Bar Foundation also awarded Mintz’s Sue Finegan the Great Friend of Justice Award for her work at Mintz increasing access to justice throughout Massachusetts.

The Legal Services Corporation honored Mintz’s Sue Finegan with its Pro Bono Service Award for the firm’s long-standing commitment to pro bono legal services and dedication to the cause of expanding pro bono work, specifically for starting and overseeing the Civil Appellate Pro Bono Program in Massachusetts.

Mintz Member Brian Dunphy was selected as a recipient of the Denis Maguire Award by the Boston Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project for his work as a volunteer attorney, coordinator of the statewide Civil Appeals Clinic, and a member of the Board of Directors.

In recognition of the firm’s work for Access to Justice, Mintz was selected for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s Beacon of Justice Award, which honors law firms that have created and implemented innovative strategies to improve life outcomes for those unable to afford counsel.

Multiple Mintz attorneys have been honored by numerous publications - including Crain’s New York Business, Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly, and the Massachusetts Bar Association - as top lawyers in their fields and specifically for their commitment to pro bono and community service.

Several attorneys in the firm’s Washington, DC office have also won City Year’s Idealist Award for their commitment to pro bono and community service.

Civil Rights

Mintz and several of its attorneys have won several awards from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights for the firm’s continued commitment to civil rights issues. Mintz was selected alongside a handful of other firms for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s Beacon of Justice Award for the firm's pro bono work related to LGBTQ+ , gender, and racial equity.

Health

In recognition of the firm’s commitment to ensuring access to health services for low-income residents, Mintz has received awards from the National Association of Health Service Executives (DC), Whittier Street Health Center, and the Medical-Legal Partnership Boston.

Mintz was honored as part of the COVID-19 Relief Coalition at the virtual BBA Beacon Awards for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

LGBTQ+

The Human Rights Campaign has repeatedly recognized Mintz and its attorneys with awards commending their pro bono LGBTQ+ advocacy work.

The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance recognized Mintz Levin on its Legal Honor Roll of Pro Bono Champions for the firm’s representation of NQAPIA in a winning amicus brief in support of the prevailing party at the U.S. Supreme Court in DHS v. Regents of the University of California that blocked President Trump's proposed cancellation of DACA.

The Richard Mintz Pro Bono Award

Each year, the firm presents an award to an attorney who demonstrates exceptional commitment to pro bono work. This annual award is named in honor of Richard Mintz, the son of one of the firm’s founders. Richard in many ways embodied the generous spirit of Mintz and was a strong supporter of our pro bono contributions.

In 2023, Alyssa Scruggs was recognized for her tireless advocacy on behalf of human trafficking survivors throughout Massachusetts. For the last three years, she spearheaded human trafficking legislative efforts — including proposed legislation that would decriminalize prostitution and another that would expand access to victim compensation. To view past winners, click here.