Every year, the CBA proudly honours commitment and excellence in Canada’s legal profession. Our awards recognize the people whose outstanding achievements have made important contributions to our association, the legal profession and our wider community.
We also offer scholarships, fellowships, essay competitions and recognition programs. Each provides an opportunity to build your profile or celebrate a colleague who has made a lasting impact.
CBA Awards and Scholarships
Explore the full list of CBA awards, scholarships, recognition programs and essay contests below. Select an award below to learn about eligibility, rules and how to apply.
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CBA Awards of Excellence
CBA President’s Award
This award recognizes the significant contribution of a Canadian jurist to the legal profession, the Canadian Bar Association or the public life of Canada.Douglas Miller Rising Star Award
The Douglas Miller Award honours CBA members who demonstrate outstanding dedication and team spirit in their ongoing involvement with the association.Jack Innes Award
The Jack Innes award recognizes outstanding contribution to the CBA by a current staff member who has exhibited creativity, innovation, leadership and commitment.Louis St-Laurent Award of Excellence
This award is the highest award conferred to a CBA member in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding service and professional achievement to the benefit of the legal profession, the CBA and society at large.Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Law
This award is given to recognize outstanding contribution in law reform, legal scholarship and/or legal research.Touchstone Award
The Touchstone Award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual or an organization who has excelled at promoting equality in the legal profession, the judiciary or the legal community in Canada. -
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Charity and Not-for-Profit Law
Jane Burke-Robertson Award of Excellence in Charity and Not-for-Profit Law
This award recognizes, honours and celebrates a lawyer who has made an exceptional contribution and/or achievement in the development of charity and not-for-profit law in Canada. -
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Equity
Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section (SAGDA) – Ally Award
This award recognizes lawyers, professors, law students or judges who support the LGBTQ2+ communities.Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section (SAGDA) – Hero Award
This award recognizes lawyers, professors, law students or judges who are members of the LGBTQ2+ community and demonstrate excellence in advancing the cause of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and two-spirit people.Touchstone Award
The Touchstone Award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual or an organization who has excelled at promoting equity in the legal profession, the judiciary or the legal community in Canada. -
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Human Rights
The Honourable Walter S. Tarnopolsky Award
This award recognizes a resident of Canada who has made an outstanding contribution to domestic or international human rights. -
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Insolvency Law
CBA Insolvency Law Section Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award of the CBA Insolvency Law Section recognizes senior members of the insolvency profession who have achieved excellence in their field. -
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Immigration Law
CBA Immigration Law Section – Award of Excellence
This Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a member of the CBA Immigration Law Section.CBA Immigration Law Section – Volunteer Recognition Award
This award recognizes significant contributions made by members to the CBA Immigration Law Section. -
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Legal Aid
Legal Aid Leader Award
This award recognizes legal aid lawyers who have made a significant contribution to providing access to justice to people in need.Volunteer in Profile (VIP) Award
This award recognizes CBA members who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to pro bono work in Canada or their jurisdiction. -
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Literature
Walter Owen Book Prize Award
This award recognizes excellent legal writing and rewards outstanding new contributions to Canadian legal literature. -
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Public Sector Law
John Tait Award of Excellence
This award recognizes a public sector lawyer or law office that has achieved the highest standards of professional conduct and competence and made significant contributions to social justice or community affairs. -
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Student Fellowships and Awards
Bill Miller Memorial Award
This award honours Bill Miller’s outstanding contribution and more than 25 years of leadership in the area of Canadian competition law enforcement.CBA Aboriginal Law Section Essay Contest
This essay contest encourages law students and young lawyers to participate in the activities of the Section and promotes and rewards interest in Canadian Aboriginal law topics.CBA Air & Space Law Section Student Essay Contest
This essay contest encourages law students and young lawyers to participate in the activities of the Section and promotes and rewards interest in aviation and space law topics.CBA Business Law Section Essay Contest
This essay contest is offered in English and French. The objectives are to promote and reward interest in business law in Canadian law schools and to promote participation by Canadian law students in the national Business Law Section.CBA Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Student Essay Contest
This essay contest aims to promote and reward interest in charity and not-for-profit law topics in Canadian law schools and to promote participation by law students in the Section.CBA Civil Litigation Section Law Student Essay Contest
This annual law student essay contest aims to promote and reward interest in civil litigation topics in Canadian law schools and to promote participation by Canadian law students in the Section.CBA Constitutional & Human Rights Law Section Student Essay Contest
This essay contest aims to promote and reward interest in – and writing about – constitutional and human rights law topics by students in Canadian law schools. It also encourages law student participation in the Section.CBA Elder Law Section - Essay Contest
This essay contest encourages law students and young lawyers to participate in the activities of the Section and to promote and reward interest in Canadian elder law topics.CBA Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Section Law Student Essay Contest – Gowling WLG –David Estrin Prize
This essay contest promotes and rewards interest in environmental, energy and resources law topics in Canadian law schools.CBA Health Law Student Essay Contest
This law student essay contest aims to promote and reward interest in health law topics and to promote participation by law students in the Section.CBA Immigration Law Section – Founders' Award
This award recognizes an exceptional law student or junior lawyer and a future leader of our Section.CBA Intellectual Property Section Law Student Essay Contest
This essay contest recognizes the best scholarly paper or article on a subject relating to Canadian intellectual property law.CBA International Law Section – Essay Contest
This essay contest aims to promote and reward interest in international law topics in Canadian law schools and to promote participation by Canadian law students in Section activities.CBA Labour & Employment Law Section Student Essay Contest
This law student essay contest aims to promote and reward interest in labour and employment topics in Canadian law schools and to promote law student participation in the Section.CBA Privacy and Access Law Section Student Essay Contest
This annual law student essay contest aims to promote interest in privacy and access law topics in Canadian law schools and participation in the Section.CBA Public Sector Lawyers Section Essay Contest – In the Public Interest
This student essay contest awards the best paper written about the contribution of public sector lawyers or an important development in the law affecting public sector lawyers in Canada.CBA Real Property Law School Essay Contest
This essay contest recognizes the best scholarly paper or article on a subject relating to Canadian real property law.CBA Wills, Estates and Trusts Section Essay Contest
This essay contest rewards interest in wills, estates and trusts law topics in Canadian law schools and promotes law student participation in the Section.CBA Women Lawyers Forum Essay Contest – Writing Them In
This law student essay contest promotes interest in women’s legal history in Canada. It recognizes the best student paper on developments in Canadian law and/or Canadian legal history related to advancing gender equity.Child & Youth Law Section Student Essay Contest
This contest recognizes the best scholarly paper on a subject relating to Canadian child and youth law.Construction and Infrastructure – The Atrium Law Student Essay Contest
This contest recognizes the best scholarly paper related to Canadian construction and infrastructure law.Dispute Resolution – James L. Thistle, Q.C. Law Student Essay Contest
This award is presented by the CBA Dispute Resolution Section for the best essay on general dispute resolution topics.Edward K. Rowan-Legg Award
This award ($1,000 cash prize) recognizes a student member who has made a dedicated contribution to the CBA.Municipal Law Section Student Essay Contest
This essay aims to promote and reward interest in municipal law topics in Canadian law schools and to encourage law student participation in the Section.The James H. Bocking Memorial Award
This award recognizes the best scholarly paper or article on a Canadian competition law or policy subject.The Paul Smith Memorial Award
This award recognizes the best scholarly paper or article on a Canadian administrative law, justice, public policy or public affairs topic.Viscount Bennett Fellowship
This fellowship rewards a promising Canadian student with a $25,000 scholarship to encourage high standards of legal education, training and ethics for post-graduate studies in law. -
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Women
Cecilia I. Johnstone Award
This award recognizes women who have achieved professional excellence in their field, influenced other women to pursue legal careers, supported them in career advancement, or opened doors for women lawyers in job settings that were historically closed to them.
