Wiley Honored with ‘Beacon of Justice’ Award from The National Legal Aid & Defender Association

April 18, 2024

Washington, DC – Wiley Rein LLP, a preeminent DC law firm, is pleased to announce that its Pro Bono Program has been recognized with a 2024 Beacon of Justice Award by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA).

“We are grateful and honored to receive a 2024 Beacon of Justice Award,” said Pro Bono Partner Theodore A. Howard. “Wiley prides itself on a strong tradition of service to the local and global community, especially in matters and initiatives involving civil and human rights, and we share a common goal with NLADA to provide equal access to the justice system for individuals and groups otherwise unable to afford it.”

The award is in recognition of the significant pro bono work done by the firm in 2023 on matters related to civil and human rights, including:

• Representing an Afghan refugee family seeking asylum in the United States;
• Advocating for constitutionally adequate mental health care on behalf of unaccompanied immigrant children being housed at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center;
• Defending the constitutional rights of almost 1,200 incarcerated individuals to appropriate medical care at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Virginia;
• Representing individuals in Maryland who were sentenced to life in prison without parole for crimes they committed as minors; and
• Advocating for reduced sentences for individuals under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act.

“The remarkable achievements accomplished by Wiley attorneys on matters involving civil and human rights exemplify the firm’s commitment to serving our community through pro bono work,” said Mary E. Borja, chair of Wiley’s Pro Bono Committee. “From representing refugees to defending the constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals, Wiley always seeks to serve in the areas where we can make the most impact.”

The award will be presented at NLADA’s Exemplar Awards Gala on June 6 in Washington.

NLADA is America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. For more than 112 years, NLADA has pioneered access to justice at the national, state, and local levels through the creation of its public defender systems and other important institutions such as the Legal Services Corporation.