Mission
The mission of the National Association of Counsel for Children advances children’s and parents’ rights by supporting a diverse, inclusive community of child welfare lawyers to provide zealous legal representation and by advocating for equitable, anti-racist solutions co-designed by people with lived experience. A cornerstone of NACC’s Strategic Plan is Promoting Excellence in legal representation.
The Awards
NACC’s Promoting Excellence Awards are presented annually to individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the rights and well-being of children and families through high-quality legal representation. NACC invites nominations for individual attorneys, organizations, and law students who demonstrate excellence in their advocacy efforts for children and families.
This year, award nominations will be considered in four categories (see criteria on the next page):
- Outstanding Legal Advocate
- Outstanding New Lawyer
- Outstanding Children’s Law Office/Agency
- Outstanding Law Student
Please see considerations for award selection prior to submitting your nomination.
The awards will be presented in person and virtually during NACC’s 46th National Child Welfare Law Conferences, August 11, 2023, and September 22, 2023. The awardee need not be present to win, but each award includes one free dual-conference registration (onsite in Minneapolis and online). NACC will cover hotel expenses for the Outstanding Law Student Awardee.
Call for Nominations
Nominations are submitted by a letter of nomination (2 pages maximum) from the nominating individual or by self-nomination, which may be submitted with supplemental nomination letters, media reports, and/or other supporting documentation (all documents must be combined in a single PDF).
NACC extended the Nomination Deadline to June 16.
View https://naccchildlaw.org/awards/ to see prior recipients and to submit your nomination.
2023 Promoting Excellence Award Selection Considerations:
Outstanding Legal Advocate Award
- Nominee has demonstrated excellence in legal representation and/or policy advocacy throughout their career in child welfare which helps to elevate standards of practice in their community. High-quality legal representation includes knowledge of the law and legal procedure, social sciences and interdisciplinary matters, and zealous advocacy skills; and/or
- Nominee has demonstrated dedication to client-centered practice and advancing equity and justice, including a demonstrated commitment to culturally humble, anti-racist representation, and an awareness of issues impacting youth who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system; and/or
- Nominee’s contributions have significantly promoted the legal rights, well-being, and opportunities of individuals in the child welfare system; and/or
- Any other relevant information to be considered.
Outstanding New Lawyer Award
- Nominee has practiced law in child welfare on behalf of children, parents, and or agencies for five years or less; and
- Nominee has demonstrated excellence in legal representation or policy advocacy on behalf of children, parents, and/or agencies in the child welfare system (see above definition of high-quality legal representation); and/or
- Nominee has demonstrated dedication to client-centered practice and advancing equity and justice, including a demonstrated commitment to culturally humble, anti-racist representation, and an awareness of issues impacting youth who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system; and/or
- Nominee has demonstrated early leadership and initiative in advancing excellence and equity in child welfare law, practice, and/or policy in their community; and/or
- Any other relevant information to be considered.
Outstanding Children’s Law Office/Agency Award
- Nominee has demonstrated excellence in law office/agency practice and management on behalf of children in the child welfare system;
- Nominee exemplifies best practices for organizational representation as described in the Children’s Law Office Handbook, including multi-disciplinary representation and engaging peer advocates and young people with lived experience in the child welfare system;
- Nominee has demonstrated leadership, influence, and impact in children’s legal advocacy and in child welfare law in their community/state;
- Nominee has demonstrated a commitment to race equity and anti-racism in the office/agency’s internal practices and programming, as well as in child welfare law in their community/state;
- Any other relevant information to be considered.
Outstanding Law Student Award
- Nominee has demonstrated excellence in advocacy efforts for children and families during law school;
- Nominee has demonstrated dedication to client-centered practice and advancing equity and justice, including a demonstrated commitment to culturally humble, anti-racist representation, and an awareness of issues impacting youth who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system; and/or
- Nominee has demonstrated early leadership and initiative in engaging in child welfare law, practice, and/or policy in their community; and/or
- Any other relevant information to be considered.