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. 

o Preservation and/or promotion of individual rights

o Enhancing public safety

o Raising awareness of other important civil justice issues

o Enhancing other matters falling within the objectives of the Australian Lawyers Alliance

o Element of personal risk

o Element of personal sacrifice

o Some element of altruistic motivation

o Demonstrates a strong commitment to underlying public interest

o Increases public awareness in the subject matter

o Provides an object lesson to the community

4. Enduring nature of the nominee’s contribution

o Contribution itself creates ground breaking change

o Contribution brings about environment for future changes