The John A. Gilliam Outstanding Mentor Award Endowment Fund

John Gilliam was not only a great trial lawyer but also a remarkable mentor to young attorneys. He was deeply proud of his affiliation with the Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court (the "Inn"), which fosters professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence in trial practice, with a special focus on senior lawyers and judges mentoring junior members. John was one of the original Masters of the Bench when the Inn was formed in 1988 and later served as its President from 1999–2001.

After John's death in 2023, the Inn established the John A. Gilliam Outstanding Mentor Award in John's memory to be given annually to a Master of the Bench. John's friends and colleagues also created the John A. Gilliam Outstanding Mentor Award Endowment Fund to recognize John’s lasting contributions to the legal profession and his role in mentoring many young attorneys. The fund provides financial support to The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), an organization providing critical administrative support to the Inn. CAIL manages the fund.

CAIL is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing justice and promoting the rule of law through the professional development of lawyers and law enforcement professionals worldwide. CAIL assisted with the formation of the Inn and has been the Inn's sponsor since its founding. John served as a CAIL trustee for many years.