Outstanding Achievement in Public Law (OAPL) Award
The Outstanding Achievement in Public Law (OAPL) Award recognizes an individual or team for a recent exceptional accomplishment that has improved the lives of Californians through the representation of a local, state, or federal government entity. Achievements may be wide and varied! For example, they could include a precedent-setting court victory, guiding a public entity through a particularly challenging process, or assisting California residents during an emergency event.
The Public Law Section supports the goal of diversity in its membership and leadership. As such, the Public Law Section encourages nominations that represent California’s diversity, including people of color, women and LGBTQ people.
The nomination period for 2024 is now open. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 30, 2024.
Eligibility
To be eligible, a nomination must meet the following criteria:
- Include at least one member of the State Bar of California; and
- The nominee(s) must have achieved a recent legal victory that has improved the lives of Californians through the representation of a government entity, or represented or advised a government entity through a particularly challenging matter or process
Selection Criteria
The Executive Committee may consider the following factors when selecting the recipient(s) of award:
- Whether the achievement resulted in benefits to Californians extending beyond the public entity represented.
- Whether the achievement required a commitment to public law above and beyond what is ordinarily expected.
- Use of innovative or creative problem-solving by the nominee(s).
Nomination Process
To nominate an individual or team for this award, please submit the following:
- Nomination Form
- Nominator’s Statement of Nomination
- Letter(s) of Support (no more than five)
Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted by email to:
OAPL Award
Public Law Section Section Coordinator
E-Mail: PublicLaw@calawyers.org
Past Honorees
- 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Public Law (OAPL) Award Recipient: Thomas Faughnan
- 2022 Outstanding Achievement in Public Law Award: DFPI REES Task Force
- 2021 Outstanding Achievement in Public Law Award: Matthew Beltramo
- 2020 Outstanding Achievement in Public Law Award: California Office of the Attorney General’s People v. Johnson & Johnson Trial Team
Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year Award
Every year, the Public Law Section presents the Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year Award to recognize a public law practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community and the highest of ethical standards.
In 2008, the Public Law Section named the award in honor of now-retired Chief Justice Ronald M. George in recognition of his distinguished career dedicated to serving the public and longtime support of the Section. The Executive Committee is honored to invite members of the Public Law Section, the State Bar and the public at large to submit nominations for the Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year Award for 2024.
The Executive Committee supports the goal of diversity in the membership and leadership of the State Bar. As such, promoting and achieving diversity is considered carefully in selecting an outstanding member of the State Bar who practices public law as the Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year.
The nomination period for 2024 is now open. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 30, 2024.
Eligibility
To be eligible, a nominee must meet the following criteria:
- Be a member of the State Bar of California with an exemplary record; and
- Have at least five years of recent, continuous practice in public law in California
Selection Criteria
The following factors may be considered by the Executive Committee in its selection of the recipient of the Public Lawyer of the Year Award:
- Demonstrated commitment of the nominee to the practice of public law
- Use of innovative or creative problem-solving by the nominee in the practice of public law
- Exceptional accomplishments by the nominee in the practice of public law
- Provisions of legal services by the nominee to the public above and beyond what which is considered ordinary.
Nomination Process
To nominate and individual for this award, please submit the following:
- Nomination Form
- Nominator’s Statement of Nomination
- Nominee’s Resume or Biography (indicating the nominee’s principal areas of practice, the number of years of practice, professional achievements, and other features of his or her career, such as community involvement and bar association activities.)
- Letter(s) of Support (no more than five)
Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted by email to:
Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year Award
Public Law Section Section Coordinator
E-Mail: PublicLaw@calawyers.org
Past Honorees
Each year the Public Law Section honors a public lawyer selected by the Public Law Section Executive Committee from nominations sent in by members of the Section and the public at large.
Click Here for more information about past honorees. In addition, the Section also gave the award in 1995 to Anthony Alperin, in 1994 to N. Eugene Hill, in 1993 to Elizabeth Strauss, and in 1991 to Ted Prim.