Stay connected for next year’s award program

The Beacon award is reserved for legal professionals working in the United States. While we wish we could recognize every firm making a difference in their community, we’re grateful to everyone who's changing lives and inspiring others to do the same.

• Nominator accepts these Official Rules, as listed below, by submitting a Nomination.
• No purchase is necessary to win this Contest. The odds of winning a Prize in this Contest shall depend upon the number of Nominations received.
• Eligible Nominees must both be eighteen (18) years of age or older and legally reside in the United States.
• By entering the Contest, Nominator warrants and represents to have received the Nominee’s permission and consent to nominate them and use them in their Nomination submission.
• Nominator shall provide Smokeball with Nominee’s contact information and photo if requested by Smokeball, or Nominee may be ineligible win and/or claim any Prizes from Contest. Such contact information is to help ensure Nominee is eligible to win and/or claim Prize if selected as a Winner. Smokeball has the absolute and irrevocable right to notify the Nominee of the name of the Nominator who nominated them and may do so at any time.
• By submitting a Nomination to Smokeball, each Nominator authorizes Smokeball to post such Submission (written or video; all or in part), their name, their law firm/organization’s name, and Nominee’s name, and/or law firm/organization.
• Submission of Nomination, and/or acceptance of a prize in this Contest constitutes the Nominator’s, and/or, Winner's permission for Smokeball and/or their respective designee(s) to use Nominator’s, and/or, Winner's name, photograph, image (still or video), likeness, voice, audio, biographical information, statements, testimonial, submission (and/or any edited portion thereof), address (city and state), prize information, Nomination, and any remarks about the Prize or being nominated in this Contest, in whole or in part marketing, advertising, and/or publicity purposes worldwide and in all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, without further compensation or authorization (except where prohibited by law) and every Nominator, and each Winner agrees to release Smokeball respective designees from all claims arising out of the use contained herein.
• One or more qualified judges selected by Smokeball will review all eligible Nominations received during the Contest Period and select a group of finalists to be announced with the winners.
• Additionally, the Smokeball Beacon judging panel will select two winners, based on the following judging criteria: how big of an impact was made through the legal work; how big the reach is; how well documented the results are and how compelling the story is.
• All nomination types will be judged equally. The decision of the Judge(s) is final and binding. Smokeball employees, former and current, are ineligible to win Contest. The selection and review process may occur on a rolling basis as Nominees are received. Smokeball reserves the right to extend the Contest Entry Period if the Contest does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Nominations, as determined by Smokeball in their sole discretion. Winners may be required as a condition of continued eligibility to sign a Publicity Release within one day of such notification of winning. Noncompliance within this time period may result in disqualification. If the potential Prize Winner cannot be reached or if is found ineligible, if it cannot or does not comply with the foregoing requirements and these Official Rules, if its prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or if it does not satisfactorily execute all necessary document, potential Winners will be disqualified.
• By entering this Contest, Nominators agree to indemnify and hold harmless Smokeball and its employees from and against any claim by any persons relating to the content of the Nomination submitted by the Nominator.
• Prizes: (3) $2,000 cash prize and (3) $1,000 donations to the civil legal service provider of the winners’ choosing. Additionally, every finalist and winner will receive a custom Beacon Award statue and representation on Smokeball’s website and social media.

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This is your chance to brag! Remember that you know your work, but we don’t. So give us context and lean into the details. Be sure to highlight the results and outcomes from the work. When you think of impact consider people, hours, revenue, and scope (i.e. # of volunteer or pro bono hours worked; # of people helped; $$ generated or donated; x months or years committed to the work, etc.)

Of course! We love your commitment and want to hear how your community work develops. We encourage you to apply.

Community is what drives us at Smokeball. Every day we see legal professionals advocating for people who face inequality, discrimination, poverty, or who are otherwise struggling. These heroes rarely expect recognition for their pro bono work, but we believe acts of kindness are worth recognizing. Smokeball's Beacon Award acknowledges this transformational community work.

Nominations due: June 11, 2026

Finalists announced: June 25, 2026

People's choice voting: June 25 - July 9, 2026

Winners announced: July 21, 2026