Washington, D.C. (June 25, 2026) – The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is pleased to announce that 33 law firms will be honored with the 2026 Beacon of Justice Award for their exceptional commitment to protecting democracy and civil society through pro bono legal service.
“Each year, the Beacon of Justice Awards shine a light on the legal community’s unwavering commitment to ensuring justice is accessible to all,” said NLADA President & CEO April Fraizer Camara. “By honoring law firms for their efforts to protect democracy and civil rights, we celebrate the powerful impact of pro bono advocacy in expanding access to justice, safeguarding fundamental rights, and helping communities thrive across the country.”
The 2026 Beacon of Justice Award Honorees have advanced justice in areas including immigration, freedom of speech, and domestic violence, while working to dismantle systemic barriers that limit access to legal assistance. Through these efforts, they have helped protect fundamental rights, strengthen communities, and expand access to justice for those most in need.
The 2026 Beacon of Justice Award honorees include Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Alston & Bird LLP, BakerHostetler LLP, Baker McKenzie, Beveridge & Diamond P.C., BraunHagey & Borden LLP, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, Dechert LLP, Dentons US LLP, DLA Piper LLP (US), Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, Fried Frank LLP, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Goodwin Procter LLP, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Jenner & Block LLP, Lowenstein Sandler LLP, McCarter & English LLP, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C., Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Nixon Peabody LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Steptoe LLP, Stinson LLP, Venable LLP, Wiley LLP, Wills for the People, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C., and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.
The Beacon of Justice awardees will be celebrated at the 2026 NLADA Exemplar Awards Gala on September 24, in Washington, DC.
For more information about the Beacon of Justice Awardees and the Gala, please contact Rabiah Burks at [email protected].
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The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), founded in 1911, is America's oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. NLADA has pioneered access to justice at the national, state, and local levels, playing a leadership role in the creation of public defender systems and other important institutions from The Sentencing Project to the Legal Services Corporation. A leader in the development of national standards for civil legal aid and public defense, NLADA also provides advocacy, training, and technical assistance for equal justice advocates across the country.
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