New York State Bar Association Award for Attorney Professionalism

Presented by: Committee on Attorney Professionalism

Contact: Richard Rifkin

Nomination Deadline: November 13, 2013

Date Presented: January 2014 Annual Meeting

Prize Awarded: Steuben glass timepiece

The Committee on Attorney Professionalism administers the annual New York State Bar Association Attorney Professionalism Award.  We are now seeking nominations for the Award to be presented during the NYSBA 2013 Annual Meeting in New York.  Nominations must be submitted and postmarked no later than November 13, 2013 on the 2013 Nomination Form (PDF).

Here is the Committee’s working definition of attorney professionalism:

Attorney professionalism is dedication to service to clients and a commitment to promoting respect for the legal system in pursuit of justice and the public good, characterized by exemplary ethical conduct, competence, good judgment, integrity and civility.

The Award honors attorneys who evidence the highest attributes of professionalism in the practice of law:  attorneys who have labored in “the vineyard” and are especially valued by their clients and their colleagues.  Therefore, rather than a lifetime achievement award, this particular honor relates to professionalism in the actual practice of law.     Background letters from clients, other attorneys and judges have provided a full picture for the reviewing committee in the past.  Your nomination should, as inclusively as possible, specify how the nominee has demonstrated the following attributes:

            a)    Dedication to service to clients and always acting in the best interests of the client;

            b)    Civility: behaving to all with courtesy, consideration and respect;

            c)     Exemplary ethical conduct: endeavoring at all times to fulfill the spirit, and not just the requirements, of the NY Rules of Professional Conduct;

            d)    Competence:  keeping abreast of the latest developments in his or her area of practice;

            e)    Good judgment: providing client service consisting of discerning opinions and advice based upon knowledge, experience, moral as well as legal considerations;

            f)     Mentoring, educating and assisting other attorneys;

            g)     Integrity:  always exhibiting soundness of character, fidelity, honesty and fairness.

Please keep in mind, in considering your nomination, that there are other awards honoring service to bar associations and pro bono activities.  In this Attorney Professionalism Award, the New York State Bar Association seeks to honor a person who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism in the actual practice of law.  Prior award recipients include Barry Kamins of Brooklyn (2000), Lucille Fontana  of White Plains   (2001), Carlton Thompson of Binghamton (2002), Anne Reynolds Copps of Albany  (2003), James M. Conboy of Albany  (2004), George J. Nashak, Jr. of Glendale  (2005), Terrence M. Connors of Buffalo  (2006) Frank E. Yannelli of Garden City (2007), Peter V. Coffey of Schenectady (2008), Jill M. Cicero of Rochester (2009), Mark A. Longo (2010) of Brooklyn, James P. Bessette of Malone (2011), Christopher T. McGrath of Garden City (2012) and John Ferrara of Monticello (2013). The nomination package for all of the past recipients included letters from their clients, which were extremely helpful in the selection process as we learned more about each nominee. 

Previous Award Recipients

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