Purpose: This award recognizes an individual NFPA member whose on-the-job achievements have contributed to expansion of the paralegal profession, including contributions to his/her employer, colleagues and the paralegal profession in general.

Nomination Process: Anyone may nominate a member of a NFPA member Association or an individual sustaining member of NFPA for this award. Nominations for this award must include no more than a two page description of how the nominee has taken the initiative beyond typical job duties to contribute to expansion of the paralegal profession, including how an expanded role has served the paralegal's employer and/or others for whom the paralegal performed additional duties, cost savings, added efficiency, added professionalism, increased visibility, or other factors that have been a positive result of the paralegal's initiative and how his/her efforts have been recognized and appreciated by the individuals who the paralegal performs paralegal duties for. Self-nomination for this award is not accepted.

Paralegals working as traditional or non-traditional paralegals are eligible to receive this award. If the nominee is a freelance or independent paralegal (within the scope of the authorized practice of law), the nominating individual may be a client.

Eligibility/Criteria for Selection: Nominees for this award must be members of a NFPA member association or an individual sustaining member of NFPA. Paralegals working as traditional or non-traditional paralegals are eligible to receive this award. If the nominee is a freelance or independent paralegal (within the scope of the authorized practice of law), the nominating individual may be a client.

Three (3) letters of recommendation, in addition to the nominator’s statement, from individuals who can attest to the qualifications of the nominee.

Judges for this award will consider the nomination with particular attention to the initiative taken by the nominee, overall contributions to the legal team with which the nominee works, the framework within which the nominee functions on the job and how the nominee has changed that framework, and the effects the initiative has had on the nominee's career, the environment in which the nominee works, and other paralegals in the organization. The award recipient will be chosen on the basis of her or his impact on expanding the paralegal profession and contributions to the nominee's employer, colleagues, and the paralegal profession in general.

Award Presentation: The award is a commemorative plaque.