National Immigrant Justice Center Honors Josh Abel with Rising Star Award for Human Rights Work

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) honored Faegre Baker Daniels attorney Joshua Abel with a Rising Star Award at the organization’s Human Rights Award luncheon June 2.

Abel is one of nine attorneys who were honored this year for their work providing high-quality pro bono services to clients with complex immigration cases.

NIJC hosts its luncheon each year to honor individuals who have made outstanding achievements to promote, protect, and advance human rights throughout the world. The luncheon also serves as NIJC’s most important fundraising event, ensuring that immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in our communities can continue to realize their basic human rights through NIJC’s services. 

“NIJC has allowed me to use my legal training to assist teenagers who are literally fighting for their lives – if they don’t receive immigration protection, they will likely die as the result of gang violence in central America,” Abel said. “It is an honor to advocate on behalf of such courageous and vulnerable clients, and I am grateful to NIJC for empowering attorneys like me to help.”

Abel focuses his practice on nonprofit organizations, advising them on matters related to seeking and maintaining tax-exempt status, governance and general corporate matters. Before joining Faegre Baker Daniels, he was executive director of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in Indianapolis for 5½ years. There, he directed operations in providing pro bono legal assistance in central and northern Indiana. Each year, the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic serves more than 10,000 people. Today, Abel serves on the Clinic’s Board of Directors and is a volunteer attorney.  

Abel is a past commissioner of the Indiana Commission to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services. He is a board member for the Gospel Justice Initiative, and is a past board member for the Heartland Pro Bono Council. He has also been active on the boards of the United Way of Central Indiana, Near East Area Renewal and the Indiana Health Advocacy Coalition.