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This saddend and heartens me in equal measure.

Those of us who engaged in any pro bono work in the mid to late 1990s will know exactly what I'm talking about, when I say that we did this at the time with no thought whatsoever of any reward, accolade, or praise, and as often as not to resounding criticism from the profession as a whole who regarded pro bono work at the time as somehow beneath contempt and highly questionable.

I think back with some pride howeveron the considerable amount that I did, and the achievements that were accomplished, without for one minute thinking that these either would or even should achieve any sort of recognition. We certainly didn't undertake that work with any such in mind.

It is pleasing on the one hand to see that Pro bono work now has the status and appropriate recognition that it deserves, whereas on the other hand, I have to say that I remain somewhat uncomfortable about awards ceremonies and the like for what should be, to paraphrase the various definitions, work undertaken voluntarily and without payment, and for the public good.