2025 Philly Justice Awards
Event Information
Event Details
Event Details
- Date: November 6, 2025
- Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Guests: 150+
2025 Honorees
- Philadelphia Bar Foundation Award: Louise Hayes (CLS)
- Philadelphia Bar Foundation Pro Bono Award: Reed Smith LLP
- Trailblazers for Justice Award: The Honorable Doris May Harris
Please join us as one city and one region, working together, to help Philadelphia’s civil legal aid organizations and attorneys reach more people and expand access to justice.
By sponsoring the Philly Justice Awards, you’ll help the Philadelphia Bar Foundation raise much-needed funds to sustain unrestricted annual grants to our nonprofit partners, as well as support other initiatives that strengthen civil legal aid services. This is a major celebration and fundraising event that will direct more resources to help Philadelphians access whatever civil legal information, resources, and services they need, regardless of background, income, or zip code.
Whether you’re a business, organization or individual that works with the legal community, or you have a vested interest in building a more equitable Philadelphia, we would love to have your support. (Law firms, please join us in our Unified Giving campaign and receive the same benefits as sponsors).
As a sponsor, you’ll gain valuable visibility and recognition at the Philly Justice Awards, along with exposure in all event promotions and across our social media platforms. Your support will be showcased to hundreds of legal professionals, business leaders, and community advocates who share a commitment to equal justice. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your dedication to expanding access to free legal assistance while positioning your organization as a leader in the fight for justice. See below for more details on sponsorship benefits.
Registrations now open!
Questions? Contact Stephanie Lantz at [email protected] or Mary Mance at [email protected].
Interested in sponsoring the Philly Justice Awards?
Click here to learn more
Event Highlights
Philly Justice Awards 2025 — News & Highlights
Honoring leaders who advance equal access to justice, and fueling civil legal aid across our region.
- Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
- Time: 5:30PM – 7:30PM
- Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Guests: More than 150 leaders from the legal, business, and nonprofit communities
On November 6, 2025, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation will host the Philly Justice Awards at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This annual celebration brings together our city’s legal, business, and nonprofit communities to honor people and institutions whose work strengthens civil legal aid—so every Philadelphian can access justice with dignity and equity.
Honoring Leaders for Justice
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Award
Louise Hayes (she/her), Community Legal Services
For nearly three decades at CLS’s North Philadelphia Law Center, Louise Hayes has helped thousands of Philadelphians secure and maintain crucial public benefits—including SNAP and cash assistance—while advancing policy changes that remove barriers to stability. Since 1997, when she joined CLS as an Independence Foundation Fellow, and through her role since 2015 as Pennsylvania Project Director for the Advancing Strategies to Align Programs (ASAP) initiative, Louise has led collaborative, administrative advocacy to boost participation in SNAP and Medicaid. A trusted voice locally and nationally, her work embodies the Bar Foundation’s mission to break down barriers to justice.
Pro Bono Award
Reed Smith LLP
Recognized for extraordinary commitment to meaningful pro bono service, Reed Smith advances the rights of vulnerable communities through innovative partnerships and sustained advocacy—demonstrating the vital role the private bar plays in strengthening the civil legal aid system.
Trailblazers for Justice Award
The Honorable Doris May Harris
Honored for a lifetime of trailblazing leadership, Judge Doris May Harris has opened doors to the legal system, championed equity in the courts, and mentored rising leaders. Her service leaves an enduring impact on Philadelphia’s pursuit of equal justice.
A Celebration of Community Impact
With more than 150 guests expected, the Philly Justice Awards is where our community comes together to celebrate progress and renew our shared commitment to justice. Attendees will hear reflections from community leaders on the power of collective action to build a fairer, more equitable Philadelphia.
Why It Matters
The Philly Justice Awards are more than an evening of recognition—they are a call to action. By uplifting those who expand access to justice, the Bar Foundation raises essential funds for grants, fellowships, and programs that help nonprofit legal aid partners meet urgent community needs across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
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