Annual Awards
At the Annual Conference in Denver on June 19-22, 2025, SABA North America will present its Annual Awards recognizing outstanding contributions from members and organizations. This year, SABA North America is pleased to accept nominations for the Pioneer Award, Corporate Counsel Achievement Award, Public Interest Achievement Award, Cornerstone Award, Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award, Rising Star Award, Racial Justice Award, and Outstanding Program Award.
AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY SUNDAY, FEB. 9, 2025 at 8PM EST
The SABA North America Pioneer Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated professional excellence and true innovation in the practice of law. Pioneers are individuals who venture into unknown or unclaimed territory or who are open to new areas of thought. The candidate must be a Pioneer in their legal field or industry and have demonstrated dedication and service towards the profession or to SABA North America's goals and objectives. The goals and objectives include: promoting the professional development of the South Asian legal community through networking, education, advocacy and mentoring; ensuring the civil liberties of the South Asian community; serving the legal interests of the South Asian community and the community at large; and encouraging greater participation by the South Asian community in the legal profession and the government.
The SABA North America Corporate Counsel Achievement Award is given to an individual who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and innovation in or through their in-house practice. The candidate should exemplify high achievement in one or more of the following: career accomplishments including demonstrated success over multiple years; expansion of responsibility and role within a corporate legal department; significant or noteworthy contributions made to the company; dedication to corporate responsibility; advocacy for the legal profession; and preferably, a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. This includes one or more of the following: leadership in diversity initiatives; involvement in organizations dedicated to improving diversity in the legal field; promoting diverse hiring both within the corporate legal department and of outside counsel; success in the nominee's legal organization on the issue of diversity; or participation in company diversity programs and initiatives.
The SABA North America Public Interest Award is given to an individual or organization that shows a deep commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the South Asian community and the general public and society. The candidate should exemplify high achievement in one or more of the following: interesting and innovative models of practice and representation; contributions to the public interest legal field; representation of individuals or organizations relating to issues affecting the South Asian community or the community at large; or advocacy for underprivileged, disenfranchised or under-represented minority groups.
In conjunction with the work of its Racial Justice Task Force, SABA North America is launching a Racial Justice Award. The SABA North America Racial Justice Award will be awarded to an individual, law firm, company or a not-for-profit organization that has made significant progress or demonstrated leadership in confronting and eliminating systemic racism, combatting structural inequities and promoting racial justice.
The SABA North America Cornerstone Award is given to an individual who is a "cornerstone" of SABA North America. The candidate must exemplify the objectives of the organization through their legal work or their involvement with SABA North America, SABA Foundation, or local SABA chapters. The candidate should exemplify high achievement in one of more of the following: promoting the professional development of the South Asian legal community through networking, education, advocacy and mentoring; ensuring the civil liberties of the South Asian community; serving the legal interests of the South Asian community and the community at large; or encouraging greater participation by the South Asian community in the legal profession or the government.
The Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award is given to a corporation or law firm that demonstrates a commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The candidate should exemplify high achievement in one or more of the following: internal and external efforts to increase diversity; innovative approaches to increasing diversity; significant diversity in senior leadership positions at the law firm or company; the types of diversity programs and initiatives sponsored or implemented by the law firm or company; or the pro bono initiatives undertaken by the firm or company. Diversity and inclusion includes race and ethnic origin, gender, physical abilities, religious beliefs, age, sexual orientation, and/or perceived differences.
The SABA North America Rising Star Award is given to an individual who is under 40 years old or has been practicing for less than 10 years. The candidate should exemplify a broad range of high achievement in their practice area, innovation, leadership, legal and community service and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The SABA North America Program of the Year will be awarded to that committee, section or chapter who has created either a stand alone or series of programs which best exemplify SABA North America's mission, which includes promoting the professional development of the South Asian legal community through networking, education, advocacy and mentoring; ensuring the civil liberties of the South Asian community; serving the legal interests of the South Asian community and the community at large; encouraging greater participation by the South Asian community in the legal profession and government. Criteria to be considered include: SABA and non-SABA member participation, substance, theme, innovation, message and impact.