2009 Diversity Leadership Award

The Nomination Process is Now Closed

The Diversity Leadership Award was established in 2008 to recognize those individuals or entities who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession through the encouragement and inclusion of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and/or persons of differing sexual orientations and gender identities.

Selection Criteria

Qualified nominees for the Diversity Leadership Award include: individual lawyers; judges; law firms; law schools; corporate legal departments; and any other individual or entity within the field of litigation that has made a significant contribution to increasing diversity in the legal profession according to the criteria set forth below.  If the nominee holds a paid position specifically devoted to diversity (e.g. Director of Diversity), he/she will only be considered for activities beyond their job description.  Qualified nominees do not have to be members of the Section of Litigation or the American Bar Association.  Members of Section of Litigation Leadership and employees of Navigant Consulting, Inc. are eligible to be nominated.

Recipients may demonstrate a commitment to diversity through any one of the following activities:

• Achievement of leadership position(s) that advance diverse attorneys in the legal profession.
• Personal mentoring or similar activities that foster and encourage participation of diverse attorneys in the legal profession.
• Creation of an environment that eliminates barriers to diversity and thus promotes the full contribution and participation by all in the profession.
• Other achievements, activities, programs, policies or initiatives that are designed to increase diversity.

Nomination Process

Only members of the Section of Litigation are entitled to submit nominations for the Diversity Leadership Award. A nomination submission should include the following:

1. Nomination Form: The nomination form must be completed and returned as the cover sheet for the nomination package.  The nomination form may be downloaded here [PDF]. Photocopies of the form are acceptable.
2. Description of Qualifications:




General:



• For how many years has the individual or entity been actively promoting diversity; for how many years has the specific nominated project or program been operating (if applicable).
• What has been the program or initiative’s impact (e.g. number of persons who have participated or received benefits; has the program or initiative served as a model for other programs; is the program likely to become a model) and is there a plan in place to keep the program going.
• Describe how the individual or entity’s approach to increasing diversity is innovative.
• For an individual, describe any professional or personal sacrifice he or she has had to make for their efforts.
• Has the individual or entity previously been recognized for their contribution to diversity by others in the field, if so, what was the type of recognition and when was it received.



For individuals: The nomination package must include a resume or similar document describing the nominee’s principal areas of practice, number of years of practice and professional achievements.




For entities: The nomination package must include the names of persons at the entity who are responsible for diversity activities and their qualifications.



3. Supporting Materials: These materials may include newspaper clippings, press releases and other publicity that describe the nominee’s contribution to diversity in the profession.
4. Letters of Support: A maximum of three letters of support from other individuals or organizations knowledgeable about the nominee’s contributions are welcome.

The Diversity Committee of the Council of the Section of Litigation will review all nominations and will make a recommendation to the full Council for its approval in January, 2009. The Award recipient will be invited as the Section’s guest to attend the Award presentation held during the Section Annual Conference, April 29–May 1, 2009 in Atlanta, GA.

One copy of the complete nomination package should be submitted by November 21, 2008 to:

Diversity Leadership Award
ABA Section of Litigation
Attn: Amy Rogaliner
321 N. Clark Street 18th Floor
Chicago, IL 60654

Please contact Amy Rogaliner at (312) 988-6424 with any questions.