Top 3 National Awards for Lawyers

Standing out in the legal field is always a challenge. However, many firms and companies have created awards to honor lawyers and law firms every year. The diversity of these awards is often staggering and may be confusing to some individuals. Thankfully, we at Gladiator Law Marketing researched the top 3 options for legal professionals. 

Alexander Award

The Alexander Award is considered one of the top (if not the best) awards for lawyers in the nation. It was set up by Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander to reward nominees in the fall for their hard work during the year. Typically, the award is presented early in the following year, often as soon as February. The ceremony gives recipients the chance to show off their success.

The ultimate purpose of the award is to acknowledge those who work hard to increase diversity throughout the legal profession. Raymond Pace Alexander was the first African American graduate of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and became a judge in the early 1930s. And Sadie was the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D., giving real strength to the quality of this award. Typical recipients of this award have:

• Shown strong leadership in their field by taking the incentive on important cases
• Supported their community via a variety of giving steps, such as charity work
• Helped underrepresented students work through law school via scholarships or internship
• Reached out to students and others to create educational opportunities for those who need them

Nomination for this award requires a completed form downloaded from their website, a narrative about what a lawyer has done to meet the criteria for this award, details about their pipeline program, two letters of support, and written descriptions on how their programs have helped their community. Nomination opens up towards the end of summer and ends in late fall every year.

2021 On the Rise — Top 40 Young Lawyers Awards

Young legal professionals may find it hard to thrive in an atmosphere where age and wisdom are recognized as signs of excellence. People often trust older lawyers due to their experience and may ignore younger lawyers. As a result, it is vital to find a way to get national recognition for your skills in a way that helps boost your business. And this award is one of the best ways to advance.

Set up by the ABA, it awards the top 40 young lawyers in the nation by gauging them on various criteria. The idea is to find young professionals who stand out and take extra steps to support their community. When getting on this list, your name will be published and spread out via many publications. Criteria used to judge promising lawyers include:

• Vision — A good lawyer should have a professional vision and sense of duty that makes them unique within their field as a professional.
• Leadership — Winners of this award need to show that they lead in their field or within their firm, showing that they have the skills to thrive.
• Achievement — Lawyers who win cases typically get the most attention, and this award seeks out professionals who know how to win for their clients.
• Service — Attorneys who give to their community — via donations, volunteering, or setting up an educational pipeline — most often win this award.

Nominees for this award must be a member of the ABA in good standing. They also need a license from the US or its territories. Other criteria including being 36 years old or younger on the application deadline date and cannot have won a past award of this type. Self-nominations are accepted, so consider this option if you aren’t sure if others are noticing your success in your career.

E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Awards

This award was set up to reward law firms and lawyers who show the highest level of professionalism. The goal is to provide an excellent example to other professionals and help steer them towards better professional skills. Every year, many firms and organizations apply for this award, using applications that showcase their skills and abilities. Awards are given out to layers based on:

• Innovative ideas in the legal profession, including new defense concepts
• The ability to win in the most demanding conditions and most challenging fights
• A kind and professional attitude that calms clients and keeps them focused
• A dedication to ethical legal work that enhances the integrity of the profession

Winners of this award get a $3,500 prize, meaning turning in an application is a wise choice. Applicants include law schools, bar associations, court programs, law firms, and much more. When submitting an application, understand that it will be maintained and considered for at least two years and judged based on its criteria.

So if you miss out on an award one yet, wait until the next has passed before submitting another application for consideration. Showing this kind of patience and restraint is also considered a good professional skill for a lawyer, so consider it wise to avoid submitting multiple applications for the award.