Formerly known as the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, the Young Lawyer of the Year Award is presented to a young lawyer who has made exceptional contributions to the legal profession and the community. In selecting the recipient, the Council chooses from the pool of applicants for the Young Lawyer of the Year and Top Young Lawyer awards. The Young Lawyers Division considers each nominee’s professional accomplishments; exceptional service to the community, bar associations, and the legal profession; demonstrated leadership; and adherence to the highest standards of character, professionalism, and ethics.

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This award is given to a young lawyer for commitment and dedication to upholding the quality and integrity of the legal profession and consideration towards peers and the general public. The YLD considers the nominee’s commitment to promoting respect for the legal system and profession by exhibiting the highest standards of competence, integrity, civility, and ethics as well as a dedication to enhancing professionalism among lawyers.

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This award is given to a young lawyer for commitment and dedication to providing pro bono services in the community or the state beyond the nominee’s primary job requirements. The YLD considers the nominee’s total number of pro bono hours per year; the impact of the nominee’s pro bono work; and the nominee’s ongoing contributions that have resulted in the increased access to legal services for Louisiana citizens.

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This award is given to a local affiliate organization that has impacted the lives of young lawyers. The YLD considers the organization’s service to the public; the organization’s service to the legal profession; the success of the organization’s initiatives that serve the public and the profession; any challenges that the organization overcame; the organization’s creative use of resources; the organization’s efforts to involve young lawyers in programming and services.

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This award is given to an organization (bar association, firm, or other entity) that has implemented an outstanding program or service that serves the public or the profession, enhances the lives of young lawyers, or was primarily planned by young lawyers. The YLD considers how the organization involves young lawyers; the organization’s impact on the public and/or profession; and the organization’s innovation, inclusiveness, and success.

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Formerly known as the Top 40, the Top Young Lawyer Award is presented to the state’s outstanding young lawyers who have made exceptional contributions to the legal profession and their communities. In selecting recipients, the Young Lawyers Division considers each nominee’s professional accomplishments; exceptional service to the community, bar associations, and the legal profession; demonstrated leadership; and adherence to the highest standards of character, professionalism, and ethics.

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The LSBA Young Lawyer Division Chair grants this award in recognition of individuals whose contributions have positively impacted the legal profession and demonstrated dedication to enhancing the YLD.

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