John A "T-Jean" Hernandez III Memorial Award for Francophone Leadership
This award is presented by the LSBA Francophone Section for outstanding Francophone leadership.

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LSBA President’s Award
This award recipient is selected by the LSBA President for exemplary service to the Association throughout the Bar year.

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Stephen T. Victory Memorial Award
This award recipient is selected by the LSBA Secretary for exemplary service to the Louisiana Bar Journal.

The Civil Legal Aid Awards recognize the outstanding work of lawyers serving in the public interest community. They are presented at the annual Louisiana Justice Community Conference. For more information, email Jordan Maier at jordan.maier@lsba.org.

Legal Service Excellence in Advocacy Award
Description: This award is presented to a Louisiana public interest attorney who has demonstrated exceptional service, professionalism and passion for representing vulnerable clients.

Criteria: The nominee must work for a nonprofit or public interest law firm AND demonstrate exemplary service, professionalism and passion for justice, whether over the course of a career or a single case.

Nomination Period: July-August

Nomination Form: Legal Service Excellence in Advocacy Award Nomination Form

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Legal Service Innovation Award
Description: This award is presented to an attorney or organization that has developed an innovative method of delivering legal services to those with unmet legal needs.

Criteria: The nominee must 1. work for or be a nonprofit legal organization or public interest law firm 2. which has established a new legal service program, project or service 3. that has proven to be effective in meeting the legal needs of vulnerable populations in Louisiana AND 4. is easily replicable by other practitioners or public interest law organizations.

Nomination Period: July-August

Nomination Form: Legal Service Innovation Award

For more information on the Diversity Awards, please email diversity@lsba.org.

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Guardian of Diversity Award 
Description: This award recognizes local and specialty bar associations, courts, law firms/departments, community organizations (which includes non-profits and public interest organizations), and educational organizations (which include law schools and schools with a law-related program) that implement and advance diversity programs to promote and support diversity in the legal community.

Award Applicants: A Bar Association, Court, Law Firm/Department, Community Organization (includes non-profits and public interest organizations). Please note that an individual is not eligible to apply for this award – groups only.

Criteria: The recipient should demonstrate the following diversity and inclusion efforts within the legal profession or the practice of law:

• Creating and implementing innovative strategies to promote and advance the concept and spirit of diversity and inclusion;
• Making a significant impact on diversity issues in the legal profession;
• Enhancing access and equality in employment, economic, and educational opportunities in the legal profession;
• Advocating and promoting an understanding and awareness of diversity in the legal profession;
• Dedication to improving and bridging the relationship between diverse groups in the legal profession;
• Proven commitment to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Nomination Period: October – February

Nomination Form: Guardian of Diversity Award Nomination Form

Award Page: More Guardian of Diversity Award Information and Past Recipients

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Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award
Description: The LSBA Committee for Diversity in the Legal Profession will recognize a current committee member (all categories of membership) who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity and has gone above and beyond their role on the committee to address the needs of underrepresented groups or public interest causes. The individual should demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the Committee through their appreciation, connection, and respect for all facets of diversity and makes active contributions to the betterment of the greater community as an agent for social change. This award is presented annually at the Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession.

Criteria: The recipient must be nominated by a current member of the Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession, selected by the current chair(s) of the Committee on the Diversity in the Legal Profession, and may receive the award once in his/her lifetime.

Nomination Period: September – December

Nomination Form: Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award Nomination Form

Award Page: More Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award Information and Past Recipients

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Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award
Description: The award recognizes individual attorneys and judges who champion the ideals set forth by Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson (Ret.), the first African American chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, who has always exhibited an unwavering commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. This award is presented annually at the LSBA Annual Meeting.

Criteria: Nominees may be attorneys or judges. The lawyer must be admitted to practice in Louisiana, the judge must have been elected or appointed to a state or federal court in Louisiana; the lawyer or judge can be on active or inactive status and from any practice setting; and the lawyer or judge cannot be a current member of the LSBA Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession. The award recipient should demonstrate a unique blend of experience, skills, and accomplishments which translate into successful diversity and inclusion. More guidelines can be found here.
 
Nomination Period: October – February

Nomination Form: Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award Nomination Form

Award Page: More Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award Information and Past Recipients

The LSBA Access to Justice Department recognizes nominees for the following pro bono awards: the Friend of Pro Bono Award, the Pro Bono Publico Award, the Career Public Interest Award, the David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Law Student Award and the Century Club Award. Descriptions of each award are listed below. For more information, contact LSBA Access to Justice Director Monte Mollere, (504)619-0146 or email mmollere@lsba.org.

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Career Public Interest Award
Description: This award recognizes any individual in the state of Louisiana who has devoted at least 10 years of his/her career to public interest legal work; demonstrated excellence in his or her work; demonstrated leadership within his/her organization; and provided significant service on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised.

Criteria: Nominees may be attorneys or non-attorneys.

Nomination Period: December – February

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Century Club Award
Description: This award is presented to those extraordinary attorneys who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the ideals of their profession and have well–exceeded the ABA’s aspirational goal of providing 50 hours of pro bono service each year.

Criteria: Nominees must have provided over 100 hours of volunteer pro bono services during the past calendar year through an established pro bono organization.

Nomination Period: December – February

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Children's Law Awards
Description: This award recognizes any Louisiana attorney or Louisiana-based organization that has provided outstanding services in the field of Children’s Law. A maximum of one award to an attorney and one award to an organization may be given each year.

Criteria: For the purposes of this award, “organization” is defined as any institution, program, law firm or legal nonprofit which has made significant contributions to the provision of legal services to the children of Louisiana.

Nomination Period: December – February

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David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Awards
Description: This award recognizes a Louisiana attorney who demonstrates a lifetime commitment to the provision of legal services to the poor.

Criteria: This award will be presented to a Louisiana attorney who made significant contributions to enhance the pro bono movement in Louisiana over their lifetime, and has shown significant leadership and service on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. In addition, the candidate's participation in collaborative efforts of the state justice community will be considered.

Nomination Period: December – February

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Friend of Pro Bono Awards
Description: This award recognizes attorneys and organizations that have made a major contribution to the enhancement and promotion of pro bono legal services to the poor.

Criteria: This award is open to any individual (attorney or non-attorney), law firm, or organization. The direct provision of legal services is not to be considered for this award.

Nomination Period: December – February

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Law Student Pro Bono Awards
Description: This award recognizes a law student who has demonstrated a dedication to providing legal services to the poor. One award may be given at each of the four Louisiana Law Schools.

Criteria: Nominees must be students from an ABA-accredited law school in the state of Louisiana.

Nomination Period: December – February

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Pro Bono Publico Awards
Description: This award recognizes attorneys and law firms that meet or exceed the aspirational goal of providing 50 hours of pro bono services per year, as established in Rule 6.1 of Louisiana's Rules of Professional Conduct.

Criteria: Nominees can be any attorney or law firm that has provided pro bono legal services to the citizens of Louisiana that meets or exceeds the aspirational goal of providing 50 hours of pro bono services per year.

Nomination Period: December – February

Citizen Lawyer Awards
The award program was discontinued in 2021
Description: The Citizen Lawyer Award recognizes individual attorneys and judges who have performed public services out of a sense of duty, responsibility and professionalism. The LSBA wishes to acknowledge these unsung heroes and heroines in the communities where they live and work. It will be awarded by the Association annually at the LSBA Midyear meeting.

Award Page: More Citizen Lawyer Award Information and Past Award Recipients

Contact: outreach@lsba.org

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Leah Hipple McKay Memorial Award for Outstanding Volunteerism
The award program was discontinued in 2021
Description: The award is named in honor of the late Leah Hipple McKay, a member of the LSBA and a deeply committed volunteer. The award is presented annually at the LSBA Midyear Meeting.

Criteria: The award is presented to a Louisiana lawyer or judge who has made significant volunteer contributions throughout their career.

Award Page: More McKay Award Information and Past Award Recipients

Contact: outreach@lsba.org

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LSBA Catherine D. Kimball Award for Advancement of the Administration of Justice
Description: This annual award was established to honor Catherine D. Kimball, the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The award is open to both attorneys and judges who have conducted exceptional outreach activities that support the goals and purposes of the judicial branch. These activities may include (but are not limited to): improving services to those who use the Louisiana court system including jurors, witnesses, litigants, attorneys, and defendants; improving court facilities; enhancing services to pro-se litigants; producing materials for public education; facilitating access to the courts; improving accountability; or hosting conferences, meetings, or other outreach efforts that facilitate the exchange of ideas and encourage collegiality within the judicial branch. In addition to presenting a plaque to the individual, a larger plaque is displayed at the Louisiana Supreme Court to list new recipients of the award.

Criteria: The award is open to both attorneys and judges whose career and work have advanced the administration of justice.

Nomination Period: March – Early May

Printable Form: Kimball Award Nomination Form 2020 (printable)

Contact: Jen France at jen.france@lsba.org.

The LSBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) recognizes nominees for five LSBA YLD Awards— the Hon. Michaelle Pitard Wynne Professionalism Award, the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, the Outstanding Local Affiliate Award, the Program of the Year Award and the YLD Pro Bono Award. The awards are presented at the YLD Young Lawyers Conference held in conjunction with the LSBA Midyear Meeting in January. For more information, go to: https://www.lsba.org/YLD/.