• You are here:
  • News & Events
  • News
  • D.C. Bar Accepting Nominations for 2021 Annual Awards
  • Print Page

D.C. Bar Accepting Nominations for 2021 Annual Awards

January 29, 2021

The District of Columbia Bar is seeking nominations for its annual awards recognizing some of its most outstanding members and exceptional contributions made in 2020. The awardees will be honored at the 2021 Celebration of Leadership on June 24. The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 15

Nominations are being accepted for the following awards:

Frederick B. Abramson Award — Recognizes a D.C. Bar committee or project that, through innovation, initiative, or unusual dedication, has resulted in a significant benefit to the Bar and its individual members. 

Community of the Year Award — Honors a Community that best exemplifies professional service to its members, its area of practice, and citizens of the District of Columbia through its educational programs, professional activities, involvement in current issues and legislation, and member communications.

Voluntary Bar Association of the Year Award — Recognizes the D.C. chapter of a voluntary bar association that provides exemplary service to its members, the legal profession, and/or the District of Columbia community through programming, community outreach, special initiatives, and/or professional activities.

Laura N. Rinaldi Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award — Honors a lawyer for excellence, achievement, and commitment to providing legal services to the District’s low-income and/or disadvantaged individuals or organizations serving such individuals.

Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year Award — Recognizes a law firm for its excellence, achievement, and commitment to providing legal services to the District’s low-income and/or disadvantaged individuals or organizations serving them.

For more information about the Pro Bono Awards, visit www.dcbar.org/about/awards or contact Matthew Stephen at [email protected]. Self-nominations from law firms or individuals are welcome. Please email [email protected] if you plan to submit a pro bono award nomination.

Nominations may be submitted through the D.C. Bar’s website or by email to [email protected].  

Recent News

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer

April 17, 2026

D.C. Bar Names Justice Stephen Breyer as 2026 Thurgood Marshall Award Winner

By Jeremy Conrad

The D.C. Bar has named retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer as the recipient of its 2026 Thurgood Marshall Award for his extraordinary commitment and initiative in pursuing equal justice and opportunity for all Americans. Breyer will be recognized at the Bar’s annual Celebration of Leadership on June 18.

D.C. Bar 2026 Leadership Academy

April 15, 2026

D.C. Bar Welcomes 27 Attorneys to 2026 Leadership Academy

By Jeremy Conrad

On April 10 the D.C. Bar CLE Program welcomed the 12th class of the John Payton Leadership Academy, an interactive three-month training program designed to cultivate attorneys’ leadership skills for success in a dynamic and competitive marketplace.

Skyline