The Paralegal Affiliates Membership Committee is currently accepting nominations for the Advocate Capital, Inc. / AAJ Paralegal of the Year Award. Click here to download the nomination form. Please submit your nomination via email or fax to Brandon Grubesky, AAJ Staff Liaison, at brandon.grubesky@justice.org or 202-298-6849.
A candidate must be a Paralegal Affiliate of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) for at least one year to be eligible for nomination. Members of the Paralegal Advisory Task Force are not eligible for nomination.
NOMINATION
A candidate must be nominated by an AAJ Attorney Member in good standing or by another AAJ Paralegal Affiliate.
CRITERIA
Judges will be looking for the following qualities/experience:
1. Contributions to the paralegal profession by
a. Teaching or tutoring paralegal students
b. Speaking at seminars and conventions on issues concerning the profession
c. Mentoring paralegal students
d. Displaying commitment and providing services to professional organizations such as local and national paralegal associations.
e. Writing articles for legal publications
2. Commitment to continuing legal education
3. Commitment to community through volunteering
The committee will be looking for candidates who have demonstrated their value as members of a legal services team, shown dedication to the legal profession, and shown dedication to AAJ's mission:
"To promote a fair and effective justice system — and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests."
JUDGES
The AAJ Paralegal of the Year Award Committee members and one attorney member from the AAJ Paralegal Advisory Task Force will be selected to judge the candidates. Judges will come to a consensus to determine the winner and runners-up.
SPONSORSHIP & PRIZES
The winner of the 2011 Advocate Capital, Inc. / AAJ Paralegal of the Year Award will receive free airfare, hotel and registration to AAJ's 2011 Annual Convention in New York, New York, July 9-13.
