Adetayo
Chintan Zalani
List of Lawyer Awards (And Do They Matter?)
Lawyer awards are badges some attorneys chase with extra enthusiasm.
Remember, winning awards is not only good for your brand image. It also galvanized your law firm office culture—motivating your team to live up to higher standards deserving those awards.
This begs the questions:
- Which are the ones worth going after?
- Does winning legal awards actually have tangible benefits?
- When should you actually apply for awards?
Let’s try to answer these questions in today’s article. But first, let’s begin with a list of important lawyer awards that we have assessed and ranked based on prestige, recognition, scope, eligibility requirements, impact, Influence, rarity, and longevity.
American Bar Association (ABA) Awards
The ABA offers a wide array of awards that honor various facets of the legal industry—from individual excellence and pro bono work to advancements in legal education and public service. Here’s a look at a few prestigious awards:
1. John Marshall Award
The JM Award goes to extraordinary individuals who contribute to improving the justice system on a national level.
Who should apply: Individuals—such as legal professionals, judges, non-lawyers, academics, policymakers, or advocates—who have made a measurable and lasting impact on the justice system at a national level.
2. The Silver Gavel Award
The ABA presents this award to recognize works in media and the arts that are instrumental in fostering the American public’s—including people of all ages and professions—understanding of law and the legal system.
Who should apply: Anyone promoting legal education within the US via books, documentaries, commentary, drama & literature, magazines, multimedia, newspapers, radio, and television.
3. Jefferson B. Fordham Awards
The Jefferson B. Fordham Awards are relevant to individuals and institutions demonstrating excellence in state, local, regional, and tribal government law. It is issued annually under four subcategories—Lifetime Achievement, Advocacy, Up & Comers, and Law Office Advocacy—and the nomination deadline is March 28, 2025.
Who should apply: Individuals or institutions in state and local government law with significant lifetime achievements, strong advocacy efforts, promising up-and-comers, or outstanding law office advocacy.
4. Difference Makers Awards
These awards are for individuals who “make a difference” through community activities, pro bono work, and service to the legal profession. They are presented in five different categories, such as:
- Making a Difference through Service to the Profession: Honors a living or deceased attorney who made a significant contribution to the legal profession through service to the profession (i.e. frequent activities in bar associations, committees, and services).
- Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work: Honors an attorney, law firm, corporate legal department, government attorney office, or institution in the legal profession committed to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged.
- Making a Difference through Community Service: This award goes to an attorney living or deceased who made a significant lifetime contribution to the local community through community service (not necessarily through bar work or pro bono work per se).
- Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers: Recognizes an attorney living or deceased who broke barriers for gender, color, disabilities, or sexual orientation.
- Difference Maker: This award honors an attorney or non-attorney: (a) who has made a difference in the local community and (b) who lives in the local geographic area where the Division is meeting and where the Difference Makers Awards program is holding.
Who should apply: Attorneys, legal firms, or community members—whether living or deceased—who have made a meaningful legal impact and are members of the ABA and General Practice Division. Applications for deceased individuals can be submitted by colleagues, family members, or organizations familiar with their impactful work.
5. Albert Krieger Champion of Liberty Award
This award is prestigious for criminal defense lawyers who embody the principles provided in the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice, Defense Function and have dedicated their legal careers to public or private criminal defense practice, whether state or federal. The 2025 award nominations deadline is December 1, 2025.
Who should apply: Criminal defense lawyers who have made substantial contributions to improving the criminal justice system.
6. Pro Bono Publico Awards
These awards are great for lawyers, law firms (both large and small), government attorney offices, corporate legal departments, and other legal professionals who enhance human dignity by delivering or improving volunteer legal services for the nation’s poor and disadvantaged. The awards presentation takes place during the ABA Annual Meeting and nominations for 2025 are due on February 28, 2025.
Who should apply: Individual attorneys and institutions who provide free legal services to persons of limited means in the country.
7. On The Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers Award
This award is a symbol of national recognition to exceptional members of the ABA Young Lawyers Division who display a wide range of innovation, vision, high achievement, leadership, and service to the profession and your immediate community. The application timeline is usually 5 months, running from October of the previous year till February of the next year.
Who should apply: Any high-achieving lawyer member of the ABA who is less than 36 years old or has been licensed in the United States or one of ABA territories for 10 years or fewer as of September 1, 2024.
8. E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Awards
These awards highlight outstanding, innovative, and ongoing professionalism programs created by law schools, bar associations, courts, and other non-profit legal organizations. Each award includes a $3,500 cash prize. Nominations for the 2025 Award close on March 31, 2025.
Who should apply: Law schools, state and local bar associations, courts, law firms, and not-for-profit law-related organizations with professionalism projects or programs.
9. Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award
This award goes to lawyers who dedicate a significant portion of their legal career to cases involving youth and children, protecting their rights and interests. Nominations for the award ends on December 1, 2025.
Who should apply: Active members of the bar who devote their legal practice to youth and children.
10. James I. Keane Award
Honors law offices that make groundbreaking legal services accessible through the internet. It celebrates innovation in the delivery of personal legal services, with a special focus on firms and entities that serve moderate-income individuals and the broader middle class. Nominations for 2025 are now closed (deadline was January 31, 2025).
Who should apply: Law offices, service providers, or entities that deliver legal services online to moderate-income and middle-class individuals.
11. Jean Crowe Pro Bono Award
Jean Crowe Award honors lawyers and legal organizations that are passionate about making a difference via pro bono services. It is usually presented at the Family Law Spring Conference and offers a $1,500 cash prize to any pro bono or public service organization selected by the recipient.
Note that the nomination deadline for the 2025 Jean Crowe Pro Bono Award is February 14, 2025, and applicants can be self-nominated or mass-nominated.
Who should apply: U.S. citizens or residents aged 21 or older who support or promote organizations that provide pro bono services to low-income and/or underrepresented communities nationwide.
12. Raeder – Taslitz Award
In honor of the legacies of Myrna S. Raeder and Andrew Eric Taslitz, this award recognizes individuals or organizations that contribute to advancing criminal justice, evidence law, and gender equity in sentencing and corrections. The 2025 award nominations deadline is December 1, 2025.
Who should apply: Law professors at ABA-accredited law schools who exemplify ethical and professional conduct, demonstrate excellence in scholarship, teaching, or community service, and have made significant contributions to advancing public understanding of criminal justice.
13. Solo and Small Firm Awards
These awards celebrate the accomplishments and projects of exceptional solo and small firm practitioners, bar leaders, and bar associations in the legal industry. The ABA awards recipients under three subcategories, such as Lifetime Achievement, Project, and Trainer.
Who should apply: Solo and small firm (2 to 5 attorneys) practitioners, bar leaders, and bar associations.
14. Elizabeth Clark Young Lawyers Fellowship Award
This fellowship award is suitable for young lawyers who have a track record of excellence in the practice of public law. The nomination deadline for the award is July 28, 2025.
Who should apply: Young lawyers and law students whose accomplishments over time show great prospects in the practice of public law.
15. Alexander Award
This award honors an individual or pipeline organization that opens up opportunities for underrepresented students, including racial and ethnic minority communities, students with disabilities, and students who identify as LGBTQ+. Nominations are open every fall.
Who should apply: Any individual or organization that creates programs and opportunities for underrepresented law students through the educational pipeline into law school and the legal profession.
Now that we’ve had a look at some lawyer awards, let’s address the elephant in the room.
International Awards
Here are the top globally-recognized awards:
1. Reisman Awards
Issued by Clio, this award recognizes excellence and innovation among law firms globally in six categories. They include Legal Innovation, Best New Law Firm, Community Champion, Best Growth Story, Excellence in Client Service, and Legal Impact (the People’s Choice). Award recipients get a trophy and public recognition on social media and at Clio’s annual conference. The nomination deadline for 2025 is March 15, 2025.
Who should apply: Clio customers.
2. Transatlantic Legal Awards
Divided into diverse categories, these awards are issued to celebrate transatlantic legal innovation and achievements.
Who should apply: Individuals in leadership positions at law firms and law firms that conduct a significant amount of transatlantic work across different practice areas.
Other National Awards
1. Who’s Who Legal Awards
Widely respected in the legal profession, this collection of legal awards uses comprehensive research to identify and recognize lawyers and firms that demonstrate integrity, passion, and service in different legal practice areas.
Who should apply: Individual lawyers and law firms are selected based on an assessment of the organization’s research.
2. State and Local Government Awards
These awards recognize outstanding contributions by individuals, organizations, and agencies that support governance, public service, and community development at the state and local levels. They celebrate excellence in policy implementation, leadership, and service delivery.
Who should apply: Public officials, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals making significant contributions to state or local governance.
American Association for Justice (AAJ) Awards
Recognizing excellence in advocacy, leadership, and commitment to justice, the AAJ presents specific awards to celebrate legal professionals who make a significant impact in the field of law. Some of these awards include:
1. Super Lawyers Award
This prestigious recognition honors outstanding attorneys who have demonstrated excellence in their legal practice, professional achievements, and peer recognition. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations.
Who it’s for: Individual attorneys who exhibit exceptional skill, dedication, and success in their legal careers.
2. Stephen J. Sharp Public Service Award
The Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award recognizes legal professionals who handle cases that help tell the story of the American civil justice system.
Who it’s for: Plaintiffs and the attorneys of plaintiffs with the cases mentioned above.
3. Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an AAJ member with at least 20 years of experience who has championed the rights of the wrongfully injured and made a lasting impact on justice and the AAJ community.
Who it’s for: An AAJ member with at least 20 years of experience in the legal profession.
4. David S. Shrager President’s Award
This award is given to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and passion for the law and AAJ, just like former AAJ President David Shrager.
Who it’s for: Bonafide members of the American Association for Justice.
5. Trial Lawyers Care Award
This award recognizes trial lawyers who provide pro bono services, community support, and advocacy for those in need.
Who it’s for: Trial lawyers who offer pro bono work.
6. Howard Twiggs Award
This Award recognizes an AAJ member who has exhibited passion, civility, cordiality, and professionalism while delivering legal services, reflecting Howard Twiggs’ standards.
Who it’s for: AAJ members with at least 10 years of experience in the legal profession.
7. Leonard Ring Champion of Justice Award
The Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award honors an AAJ member with integrity, strong character, and a commitment to human and civil rights, reflecting Leonard M. Ring’s legacy. A peer can select you, while the AAJ Stalwarts Committee nominates candidates for final selection by the AAJ Executive Committee.
Who it’s for: AAJ members with at least 10 years standing.
8. Above and Beyond Award
Beyond skills and expertise, AAJ also celebrates different levels of financial commitments made to the legal body. As such, this award recognizes AAJ members who make or have made exceptional financial contributions to sustain and strengthen the organization.
Who it’s for: New and old AAJ members.
9. Harry M. Philo Award
The Harry Philo Award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the civil justice system, championing the safety and protection of American consumers with their work.
Who it’s for: Attorneys and non-attorneys promoting the civil justice system.
Other Awards
Besides the AAJ, ABA, and international awards, here are other prestigious awards presented within the country that you can consider applying for:
The American Lawyer Industry Awards
This is a cumulative industry award that recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions made by individuals, law firms, and legal departments across various practice areas and specialties.
Who it’s for: Lawyers and law firms that contribute significantly to the advancement of the legal profession in the United States.
National Law Journal Awards
The National Law Journal Awards honors legal professionals who exhibit excellence, unwavering commitment, and dedication to justice, integrity, and advocacy within the legal community across the nation.
Who it’s for: Outstanding attorneys, law firms, and legal professionals who demonstrate excellence within the U.S. legal community.
Are Legal Awards Even That Important? Here’s What Lawyers Feel…
We got in touch with nine seasoned lawyers to understand the nuances of legal awards. Here’s our panel of experts discussing how and when they are beneficial.
Client Trust and Acquisition
The majority of law firms—regardless of practice area—believe that winning and showcasing awards helped them acquire more clients.
1. U.S. News & Word Report Increased Inquiries
C.L. Mike Schmidt, partner at Schmidt & Clark LLP, starts off with the impact of receiving an award on lead generation and client acquisition.
One award that has made an impact on us is the “Best Law Firms” ranking by U.S. News & World Report. It’s a name clients recognize, which translates to trust. This recognition has directly contributed to new client inquiries, as many come to us mentioning our rankings. Measuring ROI from awards can be a bit indirect, but tracking how clients hear about us and seeing a spike in calls or consultations after receiving an award gives us a pretty clear sense of the impact.
2. Multiple Awards Increased Client Trust and Acquisition
Mark Hirsch, co-founder of Templer & Hirsch, also doubled down on the benefits of “top lawyers” awards in terms of winning clients.
Recognitions such as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America provide credibility and demonstrate our dedication to excellence and outcomes.
Recognizing one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers substantially impacted our firm’s growth. This specialized recognition has directly aided client acquisition by establishing our firm as the preferred choice in competitive cases.
If you recently won an award, remember to put it to work by incorporating it into your law firm website’s design. This will help you win the trust of your target audience and convert them into paying clients.
Client Retention
Law firm awards are also linked to stronger client relationships and higher client retention rates.
3. Trust-Enhanced Relationships Boost Retention
According to Scott Distasio, founder of Distasio Personal Injury Law, credits his firm’s rock-solid client relationships to their legal awards.
The ROI from pursuing legal awards, though intangible, can be evaluated through trust-enhanced client relationships, leading to increased client acquisition and retention rates. For instance, being a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum has significantly enhanced client confidence in my capabilities to secure substantial settlements or verdicts. Such recognitions are viewed as a testament to a firm’s dedication towards client success, fostering deeper trust and credibility.
How exactly do legal awards improve existing client relationships?
J&Y Law co-founder Jason Javaheri states that it’s all about trust and, more importantly, peace of mind.
We measure ROI by analyzing referral rates and noting if specific awards contribute to increased client recommendations or retention.
Awards act as a “trust accelerator,” especially when clients are browsing for a law firm in a saturated market where every firm claims to be “the best.” Clients view awards as a mark of our track record and dedication, showing that third-party organizations recognize our commitment. They offer peace of mind, making clients feel they’re in capable, trusted hands.
Client Quality and Case Complexity
It’s no secret that your reputation as a lawyer is directly tied to your ability to attract high-profile cases.
Here are two real-world examples:
4. Accolades Bring More Complex Cases
Ed Hones, owner and managing attorney at Hones Law PLLC, shares his experience with winning awards and how it correlates to getting more complex cases.
We’ve been fortunate to receive several awards recognizing our work in employment law, particularly in representing workers in cases of discrimination and retaliation.
Being listed on Best Lawyers or receiving a “Super Lawyer” distinction has made clients more likely to trust us with their sensitive and high-stakes legal matters. The return is measured not only in the number of clients who contact us after seeing these accolades but also in the quality of those clients—often people who have more complex cases that require expert legal counsel.
5. Top Lawyer Award Attracted Big-Fish Client
While awards do have a measurable impact on client acquisition, retention, and quality, seasoned lawyers don’t completely discredit the value of other factors—including track record and customer service.
Mark Pierce, founder and CEO of Wyoming LLC Attorney, elaborates on the nuances of client acquisition and deciding factors beyond legal awards.
I recall acquiring a sizable client, partially due to a “Top Lawyer” award I had received. However, that client also considered our firm’s extensive expertise in estate planning and wealth strategies. Bottom line: awards can add credibility and spark initial interest, but sustaining client trust relies more on consistent, high-quality service and expertise.
No Impact
Legal awards are indeed a huge plus to your law firm’s success. But there are also countless examples of law firms that attain sustainable growth even without them.
6. High-Profile Cases Trump Awards
Alfred Polizzotto, managing partner at Polizzotto & Polizzotto, LLC, firmly believes that results speak louder than accolades.
My firm hasn’t won any awards, but we’ve represented some big names and handled high-profile cases.
As for measuring ROI on pursuing legal awards, I think it’s tough to quantify. Sure, some firms might see a bump in visibility after winning an award, but I’d bet that it pales in comparison to the impact of actually winning cases and building strong relationships with clients.
Despite winning a handful of awards, personal injury lawyer Andrew Pickett echoed Alfred Polizzotto’s statements.
Clients are more concerned with outcomes and the real-world value we provide. Though awards may enhance our credibility in some eyes and serve as marketing tools, the heart of our client relationships rests on delivering results, demonstrating integrity, and ensuring genuine care for their cases. These elements far outweigh any plaque or recognition we might receive.
What Awards Get the Best Results?
Curious as to which legal awards are worth pursuing?
Looking at the responses above, it’s clear that different authorities and “top lawyers” lists can get positive results. Just remember that the perceived value of awards can change over time.
Matthew Davis, owner of Davis Business Law, summarizes it well:
The gold standard used to be Martindale-Hubbell’s AV rating. It has lost a lot of its cachet, and the most recognized award now is Super Lawyers. I maintain that this is because it is easy to understand. However, the recognition that garners us the most business, based on comments to our intake team, is our AAA Better Business Bureau rating.
Final Thoughts
Most lawyers agree that legal awards do have a positive effect on firms. But, like everything else in legal marketing, it’s just one piece of a big puzzle.
At best, they perfectly supplement your business strategy by reassuring clients that they’re in good hands, especially if they never heard about your firm before.
Mark Hirsch said it best: “These accolades frequently act as trust indicators for potential clients who may not know us personally but recognize them as indications of dependability and talent.”
Here’s a framework by by Shawn Leamon from LaGrande Marketing to help you decide when to consider a lawyer award:
Do You Need It? Does the badge truly impact your firm’s reputation and client acquisition? If clients hire you because of it, it may be worth the investment.
Do You Have Other Badges? If you already have several, another might not add value—too many can dilute their impact.
Are There Better Investments? Consider if the budget can be better spent on marketing, website improvements, or client services than an award.
If you need someone to handle the marketing side of your firm while you focus on winning awards, reach out to us here and let’s talk!
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