Each spring the Young Lawyers Division recognizes two outstanding young lawyers – one practicing outside Cook County and one within. Award recipients must be members in good standing of the Illinois State Bar Association and have not yet reached age 36.
Required Information for Nominations
- Name, member number, year of birth, firm, address, email address, fax, and telephone number of the Nominee
- Nominator (If different from the nominee, please include contact information and member no.)
- Please include the nominee’s curriculum vitae; any published articles written by the nominee; two letters of recommendation; and a statement of reasons why the nominee merits this award. If different from the nominee, the nominator may incorporate the statement of merit into a letter of recommendation.
- Please describe in the statement the nominee’s particular achievements in the practice of law, including examples of excellence in advocacy, counseling, or litigation; contributions to the advancement of the Bar of Illinois and the legal profession generally; and service to the community. Please limit the statement of merit and letters of recommendation to two typed pages.
If you have any questions, please email awards@isba.org.
Nominations are closed, please check back in the fall to nominate someone next year.
Previous Winners
2023
- Outside Cook County - Marie Sarantakis
- Cook County - Ashly McCants
2022
- Downstate - Greg Moredock
- Cook County - Chlece Walker-Neal-Murray
2021
- Downstate - Abigail Fleming
- Cook County - Bianca Brown
2020
- Cook County - Jessica Durkin
- Downstate - Kevin Green
2019
- Cook County - Stephanie Tang
- Downstate - Miranda Soucie
2018
- Cook County - Jessica Marshall
- Downstate - Emily Hansen
2017
- Cook County – Margaret Manetti
- Downstate – Shane Blank
2016
- Cook County – Erin Wilson
- Downstate – Karoline B Carstens
2015
- Cook County – Tejas N. Shah, Nominated by Scott D. Pollock
- Downstate – Timothy J. Ting
2014
- Cook County – Sarah Toney, Chicago, Nominated by Nicole Sartori
- Downstate – Tracy Douglas, Springfield, Nominated by Standing Committee on Women and the Law
2013
- Cook County – Todd Belcore, Chicago, Nominated by Carol Ashley
- Downstate – Angel Wawrzynek, Mattoon, Nominated by Sean Britton
2012
- Cook County – Steven V. Hunter – Nominated by Peter A. Sarasek, Quarles & Brady
- Downstate – Angela Baker Evans, Peoria – Nominated by Standing Committee on Women and the Law
2011
- Cook County – Emily N. Masalski – Nominated by Standing Committee on Women and the Law
- Downstate – Joshua D. Herman, Peoria – Nominated by Linda Raineri, Executive Director, Peoria County Bar Association
2010
- Cook County – Gina Arquilla Deboni – Nominated by Frank DeBoni
- Downstate – Diana M. Law, Aurora – Nominated by the Standing Committee on Women and the Law
2009
- Cook County – Sean Wieber – Nominated by Gov. James R. Thompson
- Downstate – Elizabeth “Nikki” Carrion, Alton – Nominated by the Standing Committee on Women and the Law
2008
- Cook County – Justin Heather – Nominated by Michele Jochner
- Downstate – Amie M. Simpson, Joliet – Nominated by Standing Committee on Women and the Law
2007
- Cook County – Michael G. Bergmann – Nominated by Susan J. Curry, Chicago
- Downstate – Heather M. Fritsch, Sycamore – Nominated by – Lori Cunningham, Elmwood Park and Mary F. Petruchius, Sycamore
2006
- Cook County – Sonya D. Naar – Nominated by: Alice Vila
- Downstate – Julie L. Cibilskus, Aurora – Nominated by: Jan Wade
2005
- Cook County – Raj N. Shah – Nominated by: Allen Ginsburg
- Downstate – Christopher S. Haaff, Woodstock – Nominated by: H. Joseph Gitlin, Virginia M. Vermillion, Annemarie Kill,
2004
- Cook County – Franco A. Coladipietro – Nominated by: Katherine Amari, Celia Gamrath, Anita DeCarlo, Dennis J. Beninato, Chicago
- Downstate – Betty Y. Jang, Champaign – Nominated by: Thomas P. Cronin, Chicago
2003
- Cook County – Celia Gamrath – Nominated by: Kate Kelly and Beth McMeen, Chicago
- Downstate – Peter R. Jennetten, Peoria – Nominated by: Murvel Pretorius, Jr., Peoria
2002
- Cook County – Iain D. Johnston – Nominated by: Celia G. Gamrath and Jack Siegal, Chicago
- Downstate – Keith E. Fruehling, Urbana – Nominated by: Bruce L. Bonds, Urbana
2001
- Cook County - Anita M. Bolanos Ventrelli – Nominated by: Donald C. Schiller and Celia G. Gamrath, Chicago
- Downstate – Carl W. Gilmore, McHenry – Nominated by: Chris S. Haaff, Woodstock
2000
- Cook County – Timijanel Odom – Nominated by: Richard Porter, Chicago
- Downstate – Michael P. Ruiz, Carbondale – Nominated by: Suzanne Schmitz, Carbondale