BCLP Named 2026 NLADA Beacon of Justice Honoree

BCLP is proud to announce that the firm has been named a 2026 Beacon of Justice honoree by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA). The Beacon of Justice Award honors law firms that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to equal justice through pro bono service.

This recognition highlights BCLP’s sustained commitment to advancing equal justice through impactful pro bono work. In selecting the firm, NLADA recognized the breadth and depth of BCLP’s efforts to protect fundamental rights, strengthen communities, and expand access to justice across the United States. 

Pro bono service is a core pillar of BCLP’s values. In 2025, the firm’s U.S. attorneys dedicated nearly 29,000 hours to pro bono work, with more than 19,000 hours focused on protecting democracy and civil rights. These efforts spanned impactful matters in the immigration, criminal justice, and LGBTQ+ areas.

The award honors the firm’s advocacy for vulnerable communities, which includes securing a significant court order halting the termination attempt of Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitian nationals, as well supporting litigation to preserve critical LGBTQ+ health research funding nationwide. 

This award also recognizes the firm’s work in criminal justice reform, including long-running death penalty representations and innocence cases requiring years of sustained advocacy. Among these matters is BCLP’s decade-long representation of Jimmie “Chris” Duncan, which reached a pivotal milestone in 2025 when Mr. Duncan was released on bail after more than 27 years on death row following a court finding of clear and convincing evidence of his innocence. 

NLADA will recognize BCLP and fellow honorees at the Exemplar Awards Gala on September 24, in Washington, DC.