The Awards Committee

Q: Who makes up the Awards committee/reviewers?

A: The Awards committee is composed of representatives of the ABA Standing Committee on Environmental Law and the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.

Q: Do committee members submit nominations?

A: No, Awards committee members are not permitted to submit nominations.

Intent of Award

Q: Who is eligible to receive this Award?

A: There are two nominee categories: Individual and Organizational/Program. Individuals must be lawyers (including judges) who are duly licensed members of their bar association in good standing. Eligible organizations/programs include U.S. bar associations, law school clinical programs, non-profit institutions, tribal programs, non-profit legal services programs, law firms, government offices or programs, and law-related programs that offer representation, education or advocacy on environmental matters. Current Standing Committee members and Section Council members, ABA staff and ABA entities are ineligible to receive the Award. If you have a question about whether a proposed nomination would be appropriate, feel free to contact us at scel@staff.abanet.org.

Q: What attributes does the Awards Committee seek?

A: The Award was established to recognize outstanding accomplishments in environmental law or policy. Reviewers will weigh a number of factors including longevity, impact and scope of accomplishments, looking for significant leadership in improving the substance, process or understanding of environmental or sustainable development law or policy. For individuals, the reviewers examine the record as reflected in an environmental law practice, scholarship, or other significant involvement with programs, services, regulatory systems, legal cases, journalism, education or legislation that have exerted leadership directly resulting in significant improvements in the substance, process of understanding of environmental law or policy. For organizations, the reviewers look for programs that have exerted leadership that directly resulted in significant improvements in the substance, process of understanding of environmental law or policy.

A list of past recipients of the award may be found here.

 Application Process

 Q: Who may nominate a candidate?

A: You must be a member of the American Bar Association in order to nominate a candidate. If you have a candidate in mind but you are not an ABA member, we suggest that you ask an ABA member to cosponsor the nomination.

Q: May I nominate myself?

A: No, self-nominations are not accepted.

Q: What about past candidates who were not selected?

A: We encourage nominators from the prior year to re-submit their nominations with updated information. Additionally, at its discretion, the Awards committee may carry over a nominee from the prior year and may seek updated information from the original nominator to complete the record.

Q: May I nominate a prior Award recipient if the identified accomplishments address this year’s thematic emphasis?

A: No, prior Award recipients will not considered.

Q: May I submit more than one nomination?

A: You may submit one nomination per category.

Q: What if my proposed candidate’s accomplishments do not fall within the year’s emphasis?

A: In some years, the Awards committee sets out an area of emphasis. Extra weight will be given to nominations that address the area of emphasis. However, nominations are not limited to the area of emphasis, so if you believe that your candidate has a strong record, by all means, submit a nomination.

Q: What documents should I submit?

A: Nominations should consist of a cover letter, the nomination form, and the nominee’s resume or similar summary document detailing professional and volunteer accomplishments. You also may include supplementary supporting documents, not to exceed 10 pages. Our current “Call for Nominations” and the application form may be found here.

Q: When are nominations due?

A: The date varies from year to year. In 2008, nominations are due at the ABA’s Washington Office no later than Friday, March 28.

Q: Where do I send my nomination(s)?

A: To facilitate the review process, we strongly encourage electronic or on-line submissions. Submissions should be sent to: scel@staff.abanet.org by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the deadline date. If you are unable to send your nomination(s) via e-mail or web, please mail or fax to: Standing Committee on Environmental Law, 740 15th Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20005 (fax 202/638-3844). Mailed submissions must be postmarked by the deadline date and faxes must arrive in the ABA office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the deadline date. Supplemental materials that accompany e-mailed submissions but that are difficult to e-mail themselves may be mailed or faxed even while the nomination itself is sent via e-mail. In that case, your e-mail must indicate clearly that supplemental materials are on the way, and those materials must arrive at the ABA office within five (5) business days from the submission deadline.

Q: I’m not sure how to complete the form. Can you offer assistance?

A: A model nomination form may be found here. If you still have questions after reviewing the model form, please feel free to contact us at scel@staff.abanet.org.

Q: I don’t have candidates in mind, but my colleagues may wish to consider candidates.

A: That’s fine! In fact, whether or not you submit a nomination, we encourage you to circulate the “Call for Nominations” and this web site address to any ABA member who may have an interest in submitting a nomination.

Q: By whom and when are final decisions made?

A: The Awards committee meets to review all applications and then makes its recommendations to the full Standing Committee on Environmental Law. The Standing Committee is responsible for the final decision, which typically is reached at its spring meeting in June.

The Recognition

 Q: What form of recognition does the Award take?

A: The award is represented in a sculpted leaded glass award object on a marble base. The glass is inscribed with the recipient’s name and the name of the Award.

Q: Is an event associated with the Award?

A: Yes, the ABA holds a reception and ceremony at its Annual Meeting, which usually takes place in August. Honorees receive their awards at the reception and have the opportunity to give brief presentations to the assembled crowd. The date and time of the event are publicized well beforehand.

Q: May I attend this event if my candidate is selected as an honoree?

A: Yes, we encourage attendance by all nominators, whether or not they are members of the American Bar Association.

Q: What if a candidate can not attend? Does he or she become ineligible for the Award?

A: No. There have been past occasions where an honoree was unable to attend. In that case, a representative appeared in their place and/or the Award object was mailed to the honoree. Further, the honoree’s accomplishments still were communicated to the reception attendees. The ABA does provide suitable funding to help honorees attend the event.

 

Other questions? Please contact the Standing Committee at scel@staff.abanet.org