The AALS Section on Pre-Law Education and Admission to Law School has developed five awards to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations that further our Section’s mission of bettering legal education and increasing diversity in the legal profession. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to recognize the efforts of our community.
Nominations must be submitted through this form https://forms.gle/Qpjtd1eX2w3eqaAQ8 until August 31, 2022. The form will require nominators to submit a short statement indicating why the candidate should receive the award for which they are nominated. Nominators may nominate the same candidate for multiple awards and/or multiple candidates for the same award, but separate submissions are required for each nomination. Typically, an individual will not win multiple awards in the same year. Award purpose, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria are noted below for each award.
1. Excellence in Pre-Law Advising Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize a pre-law advisor who demonstrates excellence in all aspects of their position and who has made significant efforts to increase diversity within the legal progression.
Eligibility: Full-time or part-time pre-law advisors.
Criteria:
* Community – fosters a safe and inclusive culture
* Diversity – undertakes efforts to increase diversity within the legal profession
* Excellence – takes initiative to enhance quality of pre-law advising program
* Respect – shows regard for other’s traditions, abilities, qualities, perspectives, and contributions
* Inspiration – encourages growth among advisees
1. Up and Comer Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who, through their professional efforts, has helped to increase access to legal education among individuals who are or have been historically underrepresented in law school and the legal profession.
Eligibility: Individuals who work in the field of pre-law advising, law school administration, or other professions related to pre-legal education and admission to law school and who have fewer than ten (10) years of experience in this field.
Criteria:
* Collaboration – works well with other individuals and/or institutional partners
* Diversity – undertakes efforts to increase diversity within the legal profession
* Growth – seeks out opportunities for professional and personal development
* Responsiveness – listens and learns from others
* Innovation – develops new models or frameworks; enhances current processes
1. Unsung Hero Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who consistently goes above and beyond in performance of their job responsibilities and helps to increase diversity and inclusion within law school and the legal profession.
Eligibility: Individuals who work in the field of pre-law advising, law school administration, or other professions related to pre-legal education and admission to law school.
Criteria:
* Community – fosters a safe and inclusive culture
* Collaboration – works well with other individuals and/or institutional partners
* Growth – seeks out opportunities for professional and personal development
* Integrity – makes ethical decisions
* Responsiveness – listens and learns from others
1. Programmatic Change-Maker Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize a program that has created structural and systemic change in an effort to increase access to legal education and diversify the legal profession.
Eligibility: A program that has operated for at least one year.
Criteria:
* Discovery – encourages creativity in problem-solving
* Diversity – undertakes efforts to increase diversity within the legal profession
* Innovation – develops new models or frameworks; enhances current processes
* Support – provides guidance to individuals who need assistance
1. Organizational Change-Maker Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize an organization that has created structural and systemic change in an effort to increase access to legal education and diversify the legal profession.
Eligibility: Organizations-including but not limited to educational institutions, non-profit entities, for-profit companies, start-ups, and bar associations-that have been in operation for at least one year.
Criteria:
* Community – fosters a safe and inclusive culture
* Discovery – encourages creativity in problem-solving
* Diversity – undertakes efforts to increase diversity within the legal profession
* Innovation – develops new models or frameworks; enhances current processes
Don’t miss this opportunity to nominate a person or organization that you believe deserves special recognition!