The sections and committees of the New Jersey State Bar Association offer numerous opportunities throughout the year to honor the best of the legal profession. Nomination deadlines are approaching for awards by the Young Lawyers Division (YLD), the Municipal Court Practice Section and the Pro Bono Committee.

Young Lawyers Division

Each year, the YLD presents four awards at the New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City. The awards are: Service to the Community, Service to the Bar, Professional Achievement, and Young Lawyer of the Year.

  • Service to the Community: Young lawyers who have devoted substantial time and energy to community-oriented activities such as pro bono work, government service, charity involvement, or other public service over the past year are candidates for the Service to the Community Award. Young lawyers who are in paid public service positions are not eligible for this award unless they are doing something in addition to the job for which they are paid.
  • Service to the Bar: Nominees for the Service to the Bar Award should be young lawyers who dedicated considerable volunteer time to bar activities at the county, state, and/or national level, including specialty and minority bars, over the past year.
  • Professional Achievement: The Professional Achievement Award acknowledges a young lawyer who has had significant professional accomplishments during the past year. This can include publications, demonstrated excellence in a particular area of law, a significant verdict or law-changing appellate or Supreme Court decision, or other such professional achievement.
  • Young Lawyer of the Year: The Young Lawyer of the Year Award is presented to a young lawyer whose combined personal and professional achievements over the past year merit special recognition, and who has additionally made significant community and public service contributions; has actively participated in the organized bar; and has stood out in the areas of professional knowledge, skill, integrity and courtesy.