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Key Facts
- National overview: The American Bar Association describes the James I. Keane Award as recognizing law offices that develop legal service innovations delivered over the internet.
- National overview: ABA describes the award’s focus as the innovative delivery of personal legal services, with special attention to firms and entities that serve moderate income individuals and the broad middle class.
- National overview: ABA uses a definition for its eLawyering concept that describes eLawyering as doing legal work over the internet.
- National overview: ABA states that James I. Keane was the founding Chair of the ABA Law Practice Division eLawyering Task Force.
- National overview: ABA describes the eLawyering Task Force as created in 2000 when then ABA President William G. Paul asked an ABA Section to examine ways to deliver legal services to people of moderate means more efficiently and effectively.
- National overview: ABA’s award page lists Lee S. Rosen of Raleigh, North Carolina as the 2010 recipient.
Why this archive item matters for modern readers
This archive recovery entry is best read as historical legal information about how the American Bar Association framed “eLawyering” within its awards programming. It helps explain how the profession described internet-delivered legal services around the time of the program’s 2010 recipient listing, without changing any Federal or State legal rules.
- Why this archive item matters for modern readers
- What the James I. Keane Award recognizes, according to ABA
- How ABA defines eLawyering in this award context
- Historical background ABA ties to the award James I. Keane and the eLawyering Task Force
- Lee S. Rosen and the 2010 recipient listing
- Keeping the historical frame separate from current law
- Where this award sits in ABA’s Law Practice ecosystem
- Sources
What the James I. Keane Award recognizes, according to ABA
ABA’s official award description states that “The purpose of this award is to give recognition to law offices that develop legal service innovations delivered over the internet.” James I. Keane Award
In the same description, ABA explains the award’s focus as “the innovative delivery of personal legal services,” with special attention given to firms and entities that serve both “moderate income individuals and the broad middle class.” James I. Keane Award
How ABA defines eLawyering in this award context
ABA’s award page includes a direct definition for the program concept: “eLawyering is doing legal work over the internet.” James I. Keane Award
For archive reading, that language is important because it clarifies what ABA meant by “eLawyering” inside the awards framework—i.e., a professional concept used for recognition, not a statutory standard or procedural requirement.
Historical background ABA ties to the award James I. Keane and the eLawyering Task Force
ABA credits James I. Keane with leadership in this area, stating that he “was the founding Chair of the ABA Law Practice Division eLawyering Task Force.” James I. Keane Award
ABA also describes the Task Force’s creation in 2000, stating that it began after then ABA President William G. Paul asked an ABA Section to examine ways lawyers could use the internet and other electronic resources to deliver legal services to people of moderate means “more efficiently and effectively.” James I. Keane Award
Award framing and Task Force framing in one place
| ABA concept from the award page | What ABA says it was about |
|---|---|
| eLawyering (the practice concept) | “Doing legal work over the internet.” James I. Keane Award |
| eLawyering Task Force (the 2000 initiative) | Examining internet-based and other electronic delivery for people of moderate means, with an efficiency and effectiveness focus. James I. Keane Award |
| James I. Keane Award (the recognition program) | Recognizing law offices developing legal service innovations delivered over the internet, with attention to moderate income individuals and the broad middle class. James I. Keane Award |
Lee S. Rosen and the 2010 recipient listing
In the same ABA award record, the recipient list includes “2010 – Lee S. Rosen, Raleigh, NC.” James I. Keane Award
Within an archive recovery article, that listing is the most direct way to connect the historical narrative to ABA’s own recorded award roster.
Keeping the historical frame separate from current law
This entry describes ABA’s awards recognition framework, including how ABA defines “eLawyering” for award purposes. The award description is not a Federal or State legal authority, and it is not written as a rule governing court procedure, licensing, or legal obligations.
For readers navigating other ABA historical award material in the same spirit, see the ABA Legal Education Award archive: ABA Legal Education Award archive.
Where this award sits in ABA’s Law Practice ecosystem
ABA places the James I. Keane Award within its Law Practice Awards structure. Law Practice Awards
ABA’s broader Law Practice Division context can be found here: Law Practice Division.
ABA-hosted pages also reflect consistent award-title wording in related material, including ABA’s Speaker Bios and an ABA author-biography PDF referencing the “ABA Keane Award for Excellence in eLawyering.” About the Author
