Award Details
Individual Award Nominations
Members of the legal profession are nominated by a single nominator. Nominators must be members of the legal profession practicing in Alberta.
All nominations received in one year and not selected for an award in that year will automatically be considered again in the following year, providing the nominee continues to meet eligibility criteria.
Nominators who are nominating as a member of the legal profession in multiple categories must complete a separate nomination form for each category and provide separate copies of the curriculum vitae and letters of support for each category.
Eligibility
All female* members of the legal profession practicing in Alberta are eligible for nomination.
- A lawyer may self-nominate.
- Members of the judiciary are not eligible for nomination during their tenure as judges and for one year after their term in office ends.
- Nominees need not be active members of the Law Society of Alberta.
- Nominations and awards may be made posthumously.
All nomination packages received should include:
- A statement from the nominator detailing why the candidate is worthy of the award.
- A curriculum vitae of the nominee outlining the nominee’s background, career and any activities that qualify her for nomination in one of the six categories.
- Two letters of support for the nominee from someone other than the nominator (three letters of support for the candidate if she is self-nominating).
Team Award Nominations (NEW!)
The Team Award will recognize and applaud a team that best exemplifies leadership in the legal profession through implementation of a project or initiative which supports women or fosters the inclusion of female lawyers in either the legal or business community in Alberta.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- The team must consist of two or more individuals working towards the implementation of a project or initiative which supports women or fosters the inclusion of female lawyers in either the legal, government, or business community and/or forwards equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives generally.
- The team may be a group within a law firm, legal department, other organization, a law firm itself, or any group of individuals (where at least one is a lawyer) working towards a common goal in Alberta.
- The project must have been implemented within the last 5 years of submission of the nomination package.
Eligibility
All female* members of the legal profession practicing in Alberta are eligible for nomination.
- A lawyer may self-nominate.
- Members of the judiciary are not eligible for nomination during their tenure as judges and for one year after their term in office ends.
- Nominees need not be active members of the Law Society of Alberta.
- Nominations and awards may be made posthumously.
All nomination packages received should include:
• A statement from the nominator detailing the project or initiative and why the team is worthy of consideration.
• A list of the team members and their positions with the organization.
• Two letters of support for the nominee from someone other than the nominator (three letters of support for the candidate if self-nominating).
• Separate packages with different letters of support for those nominated in multiple categories.
Selection Process
Each year, the recipients are chosen by a selection committee prior to October 15.
Selection Committee:
The selection committee includes the Chair and Vice-Chair of Women in Law Leadership, as well as representatives from the judiciary, a representative from the University of Alberta or University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law, and the President of the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch or designate.
Selection Criteria:
The nominees in each category will be evaluated on criteria including the following: vision and leadership; impact on other lawyers; mentoring other women lawyers; dedication; initiative; career accomplishments and results achieved. In addition to the listed criteria, nominees in each category will be evaluated on criteria specific to that category. If a nominee is not selected in the nomination year, her nomination will be considered in the following year, unless she withdraws in writing.
The selection committee may choose not to make an award in every category in any given year.
Lifetime Achievement Award:
The selection committee may, in its discretion, select a member of the legal profession with a connection to Alberta to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition and celebration of the significant accomplishments over the course of the recipient’s career.