Citizen Lawyers in Action

George Wythe, America’s first law professor, envisioned a legal education that, in addition to providing necessary vocational skills, trained young lawyers so they could be the leaders the new Republic desperately needed. In the spirit of this intention, and in recognition of the challenges and division of the modern political process, the Institute of Bill of Rights Law and the Virginia Law Foundation created “Citizen Lawyers in Action."  In the Fall of 2024, IBRL and Virginia Law Foundation additionally created the Citizen Lawyer in Action Award. The Citizen Lawyer in Action award is awarded by the Institute of Bill of Rights Law to honor an individual who embodies what it means to be a Citizen Lawyer. This honor is reserved for individuals who embody the highest ideals of our profession, those who view the law not just as a career, but as a calling to serve the greater good.