Award Acceptance Speeches
Most 2020 SEER award acceptance speeches were recorded and are available online.
Section Awards
The Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) recognizes individuals, entities, and organizations that have made significant accomplishments or demonstrated recognized leadership in the environment, energy, and natural resources legal area.
2020 SEER Awards
Meet the 2020 Award Recipients
Read about the eight award recipients who were honored during the virtual 28th Fall Conference, October 19-27, 2020.
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Diversity and Justice
The Environment, Energy, and Resources Dedication to Diversity and Justice Award recognizes and honors the accomplishments of a person, entities, or organizations that have made significant accomplishments or demonstrated recognized leadership in the areas of environmental justice and/or a commitment to gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in the environment, energy, and natural resources legal area. Accomplishments in promoting access to environment/energy/resources rule of law and to justice can also be recognized via this award.
Lifetime Achievement
The ABA Lifetime Achievement Award in Environmental, Energy, or Resources Law and Policy recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of major practitioners in environmental, energy, or resources law and policy in the United States.
Stewardship
The ABA Award for Excellence in Environmental, Energy, and Resources Stewardship recognizes and honors the accomplishments of a person, organization, or group that has distinguished itself in environmental, energy, and resources stewardship. Nominees must be people, entities, or organizations that have made significant accomplishments or demonstrated recognized leadership in the areas of sustainable development, energy, environmental, or resources stewardship.
Distinguished Achievement
This Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy recognizes individuals or organizations who have distinguished themselves in environmental law and policy, contributing significant leadership in improving the substance, process or understanding of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Government Attorney
The Environment, Energy, and Resources Government Attorney of the Year Award will recognize exceptional achievement by federal, state, tribal, or local government attorneys who have worked or are working in the field of environment, energy, or natural resources and are esteemed by their peers and viewed as having consistently achieved distinction in an exemplary way. The award will be for sustained career achievement, not simply individual projects or recent accomplishments. Nominees are likely to be currently serving, or recently retired, career attorneys for federal, state, tribal, or local governmental entities.
State and Local Bar
The State or Local Bar Environment, Energy, and Resources Program of the Year Award will be given in recognition of the best CLE program or public service project of the year focused on issues in the field of environmental, energy, or natural resources law. The program or project must have occurred during the calendar year in which the award will be bestowed. Nominees are likely to be State or Local Bar sections or committees focused on environmental, energy, and natural resources issues.
Law Student Program
The Law Student Environment, Energy, and Resources Program of the Year Award will be given in recognition of the best student organized educational program or public service project of the year focusing on issues in the field of environmental, energy, or natural resources law. The program or project must have occurred during the calendar year in which the award will be bestowed [consideration may be given to projects that occurred during the prior academic year]. Nominees are likely to be law student societies, groups, or committees focused on environmental, energy, and natural resources issues.
Committee Awards
These awards recognize the Section's committees outstanding work in programs, newsletters, and communication.
Chair's Award for Outstanding Contribution
This award will be given by the Section Chair annually to recognize Section members who have made an outstanding contribution to a particular Section initiative or project during the Chair’s tenure. This is an important opportunity to recognize those volunteer members who put their time and talent into the Association and Section, making it more valuable to all Section members.