The candidate’s contribution to furthering civil justice must be significant in terms of achieving a worthwhile outcome or impact. Both individuals and organisations are eligible for the Civil Justice Award. The successful candidate need not be a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. Many types of contributions made by individuals and organisations will make them eligible for this award. Sometimes a single individual, through extreme personal risk or sacrifice will fight to preserve individual rights, human dignity, or safety. On other occasions, an individual’s lifetime commitment to preservation of rights, human dignity etc. will make them worthy candidates. 

The selection criteria for nomination are therefore flexible. The following is put forward to assist in deciding between competing candidates for the award. It is not intended to be exclusive of the criteria that may be weighted. But where multiple nominations exist, all nominees are judged according to the same list of criteria. 

4. Enduring nature of the nominee’s contributiono Contribution itself creates ground breaking changeo Contribution brings about environment for future changes

The Donoghue v Stevenson Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Lawyers Alliance will recognise the work of ALA member(s) whose efforts have been pivotal in the ongoing success of the ALA in its role of protecting and promoting justice, freedom and the rights of the individual.To be considered for the award the individual(s) contributions should substantially include some of the following:

1. Public promotion of the values and work of the ALA,

2. Demonstrated commitment to the efforts of the ALA to affect legal reform,

3. Participation in the core work of the ALA including:
o Committee and special interest group participation including sub committees and the editorial committee,
o Written contributions to our policy submissions, online blog Opinion and Bi-monthly Journal Precedent and other ALA publications,
o Contributions in working with like-minded organisations to affect change,
o Media representations on behalf of the ALA,
o Efforts in recruiting members to the ALA.
 
4. Other ALA participation at the discretion of the National Council.

 The award recipient will be a legal professional of good standing who has successfully engaged in pursuing the rights of the individual in his/her professional capacity.

 Nominations should include a short description of work conducted by the individual(s), reasons for consideration and details of the Nominator and Nominee. Nominees must have maintained financial membership with the ALA for a period of three years or more and not currently be on the ALA National Council.

 Suitable persons who have not otherwise been nominated can be considered by the Award Committee. The Nominations will be shortlisted and considered by the ALA National Council for approval of the successful nominee.