Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association Trailblazer Award

The Environmental Law Section launched our Trailblazer Award in 2024 to recognize environmental leaders whose innovative and creative legal work has improved the lives of Californians and the California environment. Each year, the award will be presented at the annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite.

The nomination period for this year’s award is open until May 16, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

A nominee can be (1) a California environmental lawyer or (2) a group of individuals or an organization that includes at least one California environmental lawyer who has made significant contributions to the group or organization’s work or achievements.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Executive Committee of the Environmental Law Section will consider the following factors when selecting the Recipient of the Trailblazer Award:

Impact: The Recipient’s work addresses current, critical environmental issues, advancing positive social change and taking significant steps to improve environmental quality.

Service: The Recipient has improved the lives of a substantial number of Californians, in particular Californians who are members of underserved communities, and/or improved conditions for threatened California ecosystems.

Innovation: The Recipient is a thought leader in the field of environmental law who has taken innovative approaches to achieve impact in their work. The Recipient’s activities may also be a model to others and capable of being replicated.

Inclusion: The Recipient brings diverse experiences to their work, has created paths for others from diverse backgrounds, and brings people with differing perspectives together to achieve positive outcomes.

NOMINATION PROCESS

To nominate an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization for this award, please submit the following by May 16, 2025:

• Nomination Form (see button below);
• Nomination Statement (a short narrative description of how the nominee meets the selection criteria for the Trailblazer award); and
• Any other relevant information the nominator wishes to include.

AWARD DETAILS

The Executive Committee of the Environmental Law Section will select and announce the Trailblazer Award Recipient in July 2025.

The Recipient will be presented with the award and honored at the Environmental Law Section’s annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite, which will be held from October 16–19 this year. Additionally, the Recipient will be offered a $5,000 cash award and will receive a plaque.