WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2020 — The American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice will honor C. Elisia Frazier, Atlanta lawyer and civil rights and social justice advocate, with its Father Robert F. Drinan Award for Distinguished Service in an online presentation Feb. 19, 2021, at 5 p.m. ET during the ABA Midyear Meeting.
The award honors those who have strengthened the section’s mission to provide leadership to the legal profession.
Frazier, managing deputy city attorney for the City of Atlanta, is known for her in-house counsel work and civil rights and social justice advocacy. She has a long work history representing government, education, commercial real estate, and securities transactions. Prior to joining the City of Atlanta, Frazier was the principal of the Frazier Law and Consulting Group in Savannah, Georgia.
“Over the years, I have observed Elisia’s strength, perseverance, and impeccable leadership under challenging circumstances and I continue to be inspired by her service and grateful for her mentorship,” said Angela J. Scott, chair of the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice.
Frazier has litigated on behalf of Kaplan Higher Education in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as vice president, associate general counsel. Prior to joining Kaplan, Frazier worked for International Paper, serving as senior counsel for the Wood Products and Forest Resources Divisions in Savannah and Memphis, Tennessee. She began her practice with Lincoln National Corporation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as a commercial real estate attorney handling varying commercial real estate transactions.
Frazier volunteers in the communities where she practices. She has been a mentor and tutor to young people through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. While in Indiana, she was appointed by the mayor to the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission, she also served as secretary of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and she provided pro bono representation to clients in the Savannah Truancy Project. She also has represented clients on Social Security disability matters through Memphis Area Legal Services and with Georgia Legal Services Program as a volunteer attorney.
Frazier graduated from Georgia State University and received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law.
Frazier has been actively involved with the ABA since she graduated from law school and served as a representative for the Young Lawyers Division on the ABA Board of Governors. Currently, she serves as the special advisor to the African American Affairs Committee for the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and in the ABA House of Delegates as one of the State Bar of Georgia delegates.
She has held other ABA leadership positions, including serving as chair of the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice from 2010-2011; member of the ABA Board of Governors from 1996-1999; and held a council position for the Young Lawyers Division, Section of Real Property and Probate, Business Law Section, Section of State and Local Government Law and the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice.
Click here for a photo of Frazier.
Media can register for the award presentation by contacting Betsy Adeboyejo at 202-662-1039 or [email protected].
The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Section provides leadership within the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties and social justice. Representing nearly 10,000 members with a wide range of professional interests, the section keeps its members abreast of complex civil rights and civil liberties issues and ensures that the protection of individual rights remain a focus of legal and policy discussion.
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