To
honor a member of the NYSBA for outstanding professionalism, which is defined as
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.
Presented by: Committee on Attorney Professionalism
Contact: Melissa O'Clair
Nomination Deadline: October 12, 2018
Date Presented: January 2019 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 2019 Annual Meeting in New
York. Nominations must be submitted and postmarked no later
than October 12, 2018 on the 2019 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:
2018 William J. Dreyer, Esq.
2017 E. Stewart Jones, Jr., Esq.
2017 Maryann Saccomando Freedman, Esq.
2016 Norman Resnicow, Esq.
2015 Michelle L. Haskin, Esq.
2014 John S. Marwell, Esq.
2013 John Ferrara, Esq.
2012 Christopher T. McGrath, Esq.
2011 James P. Bessette, Esq.
2010 Mark A. Longo, Esq.
2009 Jill M. Cicero, Esq.
2008 Peter V. Coffey, Esq.
2007 Frank E. Yannelli, Esq.
2006 Terrence M. Connors,
Esq.
2005 George J. Nashak, Jr., Esq.
2004 James M.
Conboy, Esq.
2003 Anne Reynolds Copps, Esq.
2002 Carlton
F. Thompson, Esq.
2001 Lucille A. Fontana, Esq.
2000 Hon.
Barry Kamins