This award recognizes a member service project that an Affiliate has put on during the calendar year. The project should serve the Affiliate’s young lawyers, provide for membership enrichment, and be innovative. Social and educational events that enhance the lives of young lawyers may be considered for this award. Affiliates of all sizes are encouraged to apply for this award.

NOTE: The YLD will not consider projects that, in the sole discretion of the YLD, do not relate to the profession and practice of law.

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Award Recipients:
The Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Institute for Young Lawyers (2024)
Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2023)
Florida Government Bar Association (2022)
Hillsborough County Bar Association YLD (2021)
Gwen S. Cherry Women Lawyers Association (2020)
Manatee County Bar Young Lawyers Association (2019)
Palm Beach County Bar Association (2018)
Broward County Bar Association (2017)
Clearwater Bar Association (2016)

This award recognizes two or more Affiliates who jointly participated – by way of planning, funding, and/or execution – in an event that improves the quality of legal services, the perception of lawyers and the judicial system, or the practice of law, generally.

NOTE: The YLD will not consider projects that, in the sole discretion of the YLD, do not relate to the profession and practice of law.

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Award Recipients:
Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“MDFAWL”) and Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (“GSCBWLA”) Women Lawyers Leadership Academy (2024)
Jacksonville Bar Association YLS and D.W. Perkins Bar Association (2023)
Jacksonville Bar Association YLS and D.W. Perkins Bar Association (2022)

This award recognizes a public service project that an Affiliate has put on during the calendar year. The project must serve the public and community, enhance the relationship of young lawyers to the public and community, and be innovative. In addition to direct service, social events that are primarily fundraisers for a project may be considered for this award. Affiliates of all sizes are encouraged to apply for this award.

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Award Recipients:
Haitian Lawyers Association Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Project (2024)
Broward County Hispanic Bar Association (2023)
T.J. Reddick Bar Association (2022)
Palm Beach County Bar Association YLS (2021)
Broward County Bar YLS (2020)
Dade County Bar Young Lawyers Division (2019)
Manatee County Bar Association (2018)
Brevard County Bar Association (2017)
Jacksonville Bar Association (2016)

This award recognizes a young lawyer Affiliate in the State of Florida for excellence in public service, member service, and creative use of resources for activities and programing in the calendar year.

There are three (3) Affiliate of the Year Awards:

Small Affiliate of the Year Award
(up to 100 members) recognizes Affiliates whose work is outstanding, even with fewer members or resources. This award recognizes a young lawyer Affiliate in the State of Florida with a smaller number of members that has shown excellence in public service, member service and creative use of resources.

Mid-Sized Affiliate of the Year Award
(101-250 members) recognizes a young lawyer Affiliate in the State of Florida with a mid-size number of members that has demonstrated excellence in public service, member service and creative use of resources.

Large Affiliate of the Year Award
(more than 250 members) recognizes a young lawyer Affiliate in the State of Florida with a large number of members that has demonstrated excellence in public service, member service and creative use of resources.

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Small Affiliate of the Year Award Recipients:
Lee County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (2024)
Polk Association for Women Lawyers (2023)
T.J. Reddick Bar Association (2022)
Caribbean Bar Association (2021)
Polk County FAWL (2020)
Miami-Dade FAWL (2019)
Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association (2018)
Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association (2017)

Mid-Sized Affiliate of the Year Award Recipients:
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association (2024)
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association (2023)
Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2022)

Large Affiliate of the Year Award Recipients:
Broward County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (2024)
Orange County Bar Association (2023)
Hillsborough County Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division (2022)
Jacksonville Bar Association YLS (2021)
Palm Beach County Bar (2020)
Orange County Bar Young Lawyers Section (2019)
Broward County Bar Association (2018)
Broward County Bar Association (2017)
Broward County Bar Association (2016)

Outstanding Government Lawyer Award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of a government lawyer who excels in their field, possesses an excellent reputation for integrity, exhibits dedication to their community and their profession through bar-related or similar activities, and who demonstrates a commitment to the success and advancement of young government lawyers.

Outstanding Government Lawyer Award Recipients:
Annika Ashton (2025)
Marcus L. Isom (2024)
Harold Pryor (2023)
Lyndsey Siara  (2022)
LaTesha M. Campbell (2021)

This award is given to a young lawyer who is not a member of the Florida Bar YLD Board of Governors, who has worked most diligently in the past year in Bar activities or law related public activities and who has an excellent reputation for legal abilities and integrity.

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Lynn Futch Most Productive Young Lawyer Award Recipients:
Nicole Gehringer (2025)
Mallory M. Cooney (2024)
Alexis Dion Deveaux (2023)
Valeria Obi (2022)
G.C. Murray II (2021)
Alessandro Apolito (2020)
Traci Koster (2019)
Amber Kornreich (2018)
Alexandria Hill (2017) – + Download Nomination Packet
Jaime Rich Vining (2016)

The Michael K. Reese Quality of Life Award recognizes (a) a person who by example or (b) an entity who through initiatives has made a positive impact in young lawyers’ lives by encouraging healthy practices that also improve their ability to serve clients. Such healthy practices include, but are not limited to: prioritizing mental and physical healthcare; balancing work, family and community involvement; minimizing and managing stress in one’s career; and/or redefining work habits and schedules to achieve more flexibility and fulfillment in life along with greater competence in the profession.

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Michael K. Reese Quality of Life Award Recipients:
Larry Krieger (2025)
Narinah P. Jean Baptiste (2024)
Jason Imler (2023)
Hillsborough County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (2022)
Hon. Senator Lori Berman; the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“FAWL”) (2021)
Orr ǀ Cook (2020)
Rochelle Gapere (2019)
Michael Freed (2018)
Deborah Baker-Egozi (2017)
Alison Sausaman (2016)

This award is given to a jurist with an excellent reputation for sound judicial decisions and an unblemished record of integrity as a lawyer and judge, is generally recognized by Bar members as highly qualified, is active in Bar-related activities open to the judiciary, and demonstrates concern for and willingness to assist young lawyers and respects their abilities.

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Meenu T. Sasser Outstanding Jurist Award Recipients:
Judge Gordon C. Murray, Sr. (2025)
Judge Stephen M. Walker (2024)
Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson (2023)
Judge Tatiana Salvador (2022)
The Honorable Chief Judge Donald A. Myers, Jr. (2021)
The Honorable Brian J. Davis (2020)
The Honorable Meenu Sasser (2019)
The Honorable Lisa Walsh (2018)
The Honorable Claudia Isom (2017)
The Honorable Gill Freeman (2016)

This award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of a woman lawyer or judge who excels in her field, possesses an excellent reputation for integrity, exhibits dedication to her community and her profession through bar-related or similar activities, and who demonstrates a commitment to the success and advancement of young women lawyers.

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Outstanding Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award Recipients:
Charise A. Morgan (2025)
Lorna Brown-Burton (2024)
Sia Baker Barnes (2023)
The Honorable Samantha Ward (2022)
The Honorable Rhonda Denise Peoples-Waters (2021)
The Honorable Elizabeth G. Rice (2020)
Marianne Curtis (2019)
Melanie Griffin (2018)
Katherine Yanes (2017)
Hilarie Bass (2016)

The Cynthia Henry Duval Outreach Award is given to a person or entity that respects and promotes engagement and outreach in the profession to improve the ability of young lawyers to serve their clients. The Award recognizes those who encourage member participation in law schools and the practice of law—in all areas of the law including private, corporate, and public or government practices.  Individuals, law firms, and government offices are among past award recipients.

Cynthia Henry Duval Outreach Award Recipients
Katherine Bliss Para (2025)
Travis J. Coy & Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy (2024)

The 2026-27 awards will be given at the February 2027 Affiliate Outreach Conference (AOC) –  36 Under 36 Awards presentation during the General Session and Gala

The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division is looking for young lawyers who display the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, whose character and integrity remain unwavering even in the most trying times, and whose dedication to raising the bar in the legal profession is unmatched. While the term “professionalism” is broad enough to defy a singular, concise definition, if you know a young lawyer who has created a professional reputation worthy of recognition, we want to hear from you!

+ LEARN MORE
+ NOMINATION FORM

The YLD Mentor of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding Florida-licensed attorney who has shown remarkable achievements in the area of mentorship to young lawyers and/or law students in the state of Florida. This prestigious award will be given to an attorney who has contributed significant time and efforts toward mentoring young lawyers and/or law students. The purpose of this award is to recognize that very deserving individual for above-and-beyond efforts in achieving a high standard of mentorship.

Attachments: It is mandatory to attach a letter or statement from the nominator explaining why the nominee deserves this award. It is optional to attach materials from third parties, such as photographs, articles, or additional letters in support; however, all submissions shall be limited to five (5) attachments accompanying the nomination, and all nominations shall not exceed a total of ten (10) pages.

+ NOMINATION FORM

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Award Recipients:
Judge Heloiza Correa (2024)

The YLD Pro Bono Award recognizes the public service or legal aid performed by a young lawyer (younger than 36 or who has not practiced for more than five years in any jurisdiction) who provides outstanding contributions to those in need of legal services. A nominee must be admitted to practice in Florida.

The term Pro Bono is derived from the phrase pro bono publico meaning “for the good of the public.” The purpose of this award is to encourage more Florida young lawyers to freely contribute their time and expertise in providing legal services to people in their community who cannot otherwise afford those services. In some instances, this will include legal services to charitable organizations that serve the poor. The emphasis of this award is on legal service to the poor.

Attachments: It is mandatory to attach a letter or statement from the nominator explaining why the nominee deserves this award. It is optional to attach materials from third parties, such as photographs, articles, or additional letters in support; however, all submissions shall be limited to five (5) attachments accompanying the nomination, and all nominations shall not exceed a total of ten (10) pages.

+ NOMINATION FORM

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Pro Bono Award Recipients:
Amber Kornreich (2025)
Michael’s Deborah Saint-Vil (2024)
Irena Shabetayev (2023)
Tremaine L. Hemans (2022)
Fay O. Pappas (2021)
Belkis Plata (2020)
Tori Simmons (2019)
Allison M. Stocker, Jacksonville (2018)
Jennifer Edwards, Largo (2017)
Elisa J. D’Amico, Miami (2016)
Sara Alpert, Tampa (2015)
Laura E. Ward, Tampa (2014)
Rebecca Lauren Sosa, Miami (2013)
Timothy Allen Moran, Oviedo (2012)
Rachel May Zysk, Tampa (2011)
Monica Miller Evans, Tallahassee (2010)
Carin Manders Constantine, St. Petersburg (2009)
Heather Pinder Rodriguez, Orlando (2008)
Mac Richard McCoy, Tampa (2007)
Joseph F. Summonte, Jr., Sarasota (2006)
Melanie Emmons Damian, Miami (2005)
Thomas Alan Zehnder, Orlando (2004)
Laurel Francis Moore, Tampa (2003)
Lawrence Howard Kolin, Orlando (2002)
Jacqueline Hogan Scola, Miami (2001)
Steven H. Malone, West Palm Beach (2000)
Scott Edmonds Ray, Miami (1999)
Karen Josefsberg Ladis, Miami (1998)
Michelle Anchors, Tallahasssee (1997)
Robert Lowery Hamilton, Orlando (1996)
Cheryl Ada Elizabeth Little, Miami (1995)
A. Bryant Applegate, Orlando (1994)
Robert Alan Williams, Tallahassee (1993)

The Spirit of Excellence Award recognizes the overall efforts and accomplishments of a lawyer and/or community leader who has excelled in their professional settings and personifies a spirit of excellence in practice. This award should focus on distinguished leaders who have made a great impact on the legal profession over the last calendar year.

+ NOMINATION FORM

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Award Recipients:
Judge Brian Davis (2024)