Awards of Merit

These awards of merit recognize outstanding projects and programs of local and specialty bar associations. Multiple recipients may be selected each year at the discretion of the judging panel elected by the executive committee of the Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations. Entries are due each spring and nomination openings are announced on the CLSBA website and through email communications with members.

This competition is designed to:

  • Recognize outstanding projects and programs of local and specialty bar associations.
  • Share successful programming ideas and resources with all bar associations.
  • Encourage greater service to the bench, bar, and public.
  • Inform the public about some of the excellent work of local and specialty bars and the legal profession in general.

The VSB Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations will present the Awards of Merit during the VSB Annual Meeting on Friday, May 31, 2024, in Virginia Beach.

Entries must be postmarked or received via e-mail no later than Friday, April 12, 2024.

39th Annual Awards of Merit Nomination Criteria

Eligibility

Awards of Merit are offered in five divisions:

  • 50 members or fewer
  • 51-250 members
  • 251–450 members
  • 451 or more members
  • Multi-bar projects
  • Sustained projects

Additional certificates of achievement may be awarded in each division if deemed appropriate by the judges.

CLSBA-member local and specialty bars are encouraged to submit successful or unique NEW programs undertaken since May 1, 2023, or sustained projects that meet the judging criteria. If a bar completes several projects during Law Week, all the projects may be included in one entry or each project may be entered individually. A local or specialty bar association may submit more than one entry but no more than four.

The judging committee reserves the right to withhold an award in any division if it feels no noteworthy bar programs were entered. The executive committee of the Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations reserves the right to recategorize the current bar size divisions.

Entry Rules & Deadline: April 12, 2024

  1. All entries should have a completed cover page with the following information:
    1. Name of bar association
    2. Title of project submitted for award
    3. Number of members in bar association
    4. Name and phone number of bar president
    5. Name, title, and phone number of person submitting entry if other than president
  2. All entries should be no more than five (8-1/2" x 11") pages in length, not including the cover page.
  3. Mailed entries should not be placed in a notebook, plastic display sleeve or exhibition folder.
  4. Total supporting exhibits should be no more than ten pages. (Please include photographs or newspaper clippings if available.)
  5. All entries should be emailed to [email protected]
    —OR—
    Mailed to:
    Paulette Davidson
    Virginia State Bar
    1111 East Main Street, Suite 700
    Richmond, VA 23219-0026
    Phone: (804) 775-0521
  6. All entries must be postmarked or received via e-mail no later than Friday, April 12, 2024.

Entry Instructions

Each entry should include the following information:

  • The project’s objectives and intended scope.
  • Nature and extent of planning and organization.
  • Evidence of effectiveness and success of the project.
  • Extent of membership involvement.
  • Expenses and funding of the project.
  • Replicability and adaptability of the project to other local or specialty bar associations.
  • Suggestions to other bars that may attempt a similar project.
  • If similar projects have been undertaken by another bar association or if this is a continuing project by a bar association, explain how this effort distinguished itself (i.e., effectiveness, scope, participation).

Supporting exhibits such as photographs, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other printed material may be included in the association’s entry. If you wish to submit a recording for review, please include a link to the recording uploaded to YouTube.

All entry material will be added to the Virginia State Bar’s Resource Library for use by all local and specialty bar associations.

Winners will be notified by telephone by Friday, May 10, 2024. A press release will be sent to local and statewide media announcing Awards of Merit recipients.

Judging

The executive committee of the Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations will select people experienced in bar activities to serve as judges.

Entries will be judged according to:

  • Degree of innovation and originality.
  • Level of difficulty in implementing or sustaining the project.
  • Success of the project including scope, importance and duration of benefits derived by the public or profession.
  • Replicability and adaptability of the project to other local or specialty bar associations.
  • Extent of membership participation.

Sustained Projects

For sustained projects, additional criteria are:

  1. growth of project and
  2. the duration of the project must exceed five (5) consecutive years.

If a sustained project has previously received an award under this category, another five years must have lapsed and growth of project since last award received must be noted.