Each year, the Florida Justice Association recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the success of the association and the profession through their leadership and service. Our prestigious awards honor individuals who have dedicated their lives to preserve and protect Florida’s civil justice system.
Members are encouraged to submit nominees for several of the distinguished FJA awards program. Depending on the award, the award winners will be honored during FJA’s Annual Convention or Masters of Justice event.
Currently we are accepting award nominations for:
Founders Awards:
- Perry Nichols Award
- Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award
- B.J. and Tom Masterson Award for Professionalism
- Jon E. Krupnick Guardian of Justice Award for Perseverance
- S. Victor Tipton Award for Superior Achievement in Legal Writing
- Justice Barbara Pariente Award
FJA Awards:
- James F. “Jim” McKenzie From Day One Award
- Joan Williams Award
- Rising Star Award
Click the button below to enter the award nomination portal for the Founders and FJA awards.
Founders Awards and the Rising Star Award submissions are due by 5 p.m. on January 26. All entries will need a Letter of Submission and can also include corresponding supporting documents.
The Founders’ Awards allow us to commemorate the legacy of the Founders of the FJA and the admirable characteristics they demonstrated. We honor the leadership of members who have dedicated themselves to defending the rights of Florida citizens and carrying out the mission of the organization.
Perry Nichols Award
The Perry Nichols Award is the highest honor the FJA bestows and gives recognition to an individual who has dedicated a lifetime to the pursuit of justice through extended and distinguished service to the cause of justice in Florida and in the nation.
The Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award honors Al J. Cone who lived a life of the following:
- A career of leadership
- A career of example setting
- A career of devotion
- A career of courage
In honor of B.J. Masterson, former FJA President, and Thomas Masterson, son of B.J. and FJA member since 1975. This award is presented to an attorney who, like B.J. and Tom, epitomizes ethical professionalism and is a model to which all lawyers should aspire.
The Jon E. Krupnick Award is awarded for efforts on behalf of a particular client reflecting relentless commitment, perseverance and fortitude to seek justice and achieve success through all obstacles and legal roadblocks encountered.
The S. Victor Tipton Award is awarded for superior achievement in legal writing. This award is given in honor of S. Victor Tipton, Founder and Editor of the FJA’s Journal. Tipton was a founding member and former President of the Florida Justice Association®. Since its inception as The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Tipton was a valuable voice and guiding spirit for the FJA.
The Justice Barbara Pariente Award was established as a permanent tribute to Justice Barbara Pariente, a trial lawyer and Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Justice Pariente is widely recognized for her tenacity, grit, and ability to overcome adversity in the legal profession to ensure that in Florida every person has access to equal justice under the law.
The James F. “Jim” McKenzie Award was originally created to honor Jim McKenzie to recognize elite FJA EAGLE members who have been members of and served EAGLE since the program was created in 1985 — “from day one.” The award is given in recognition of continued commitment and support of the Florida Justice Association by accepting every challenge and serving willingly and tirelessly in the defense of Florida’s civil justice system.
The Joan Williams Award recognizes non-attorney individuals who have spent his or her lifetime demonstrating professionalism and perseverance in promoting and protecting the civil justice system.
The Rising Star Award recipient should show exemplary promise as a future leader of the Florida Justice Association®; who demonstrates a commitment to developing legal, legislative, and civic responsibility in themselves and others; whose work reflects a strong emphasis on defending the civil justice system.
This award is presented by the Young Lawyers’ Section to an FJA member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help Young Lawyers improve their legal skills and become great professionals.
The FJA Beyond Excellence Award recognizes a lawyer who has demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion of all underrepresented genders, races, ethnicities, religions, and orientations in all areas of the law. The recipient of the FJA Beyond Excellence Award has worked, whether in his or her individual capacity or with a group, to develop a legal community that includes and values all aspects of diversity.
In 2014, the FJA created the “Cornerstone Award” to recognize our leaders’ efforts in recruiting members. This award recognizes the members who have worked tirelessly to set the Cornerstones upon which our great association is built and maintained.
This award is given to a member of the Women’s Caucus by other members of the caucus. It is given for exceptional effort and commitment to the Women’s Caucus’ mission of promoting women trial lawyers in all areas of the Association through the promotion of gender equality and the advancement of women in the practice of law, public service, community involvement, and professional activities. They create, improve, and maintain supportive networks among members in the caucus through mutual cooperation, respect, and good friendship.
Created in 2021 by the Women’s Caucus Section to honor a woman whose qualifications include noteworthy legal accomplishments, an active interest in and positive influence upon the profession, and constructive contributions in civic and community matters. This award receives nominations by women’s caucus members and is selected by the caucus. The recipient must have had a direct impact on other women, the legal community, the FJA, and the issues that affect women through leadership, mentoring, activism, and/or by providing opportunities to others.
This award, presented by the outgoing FJA President, recognizes an individual who has supported and assisted the President tremendously during their term.
In recognition of a law firm that has shown an extraordinary contribution to the membership base of the FJA.
This award recognizes the efforts of one individual who enables the growth of the FJA EAGLE program through tireless recruitment of new contributors to the FJA, and encourages new leadership into our organization. Each year, Trevor Goring of the Trial Lawyer National Portrait Gallery provides a limited edition print on canvas to the recipient. This year’s print is titled “The Holdout Juror”, and depicts a lone holdout juror in a room of others pushing for a quick guilty verdict.
Becoming an EAGLE Excalibur means that you have given $500,000 or more over a lifetime to the Florida Justice Association. It demonstrates a great degree of commitment to the organization and the preservation of the civil justice system. EAGLEs at this level have emerged as true legacies in their craft.
Becoming an EAGLE Centurion means that you have given $250,000 or more over a lifetime to the Florida Justice Association. It demonstrates a great degree of commitment to the organization and the preservation of the civil justice system. EAGLEs at this level have emerged as true legacies in their craft.
Becoming an EAGLE Legend means that you have given $100,000 or more over a lifetime to the Florida Justice Association. It demonstrates a great degree of commitment to the organization and the preservation of the civil justice system. EAGLEs at this level have emerged as true legacies in their craft.
Becoming part of the EAGLE Hall of Fame means that you have given $50,000 or more over a lifetime to the Florida Justice Association. It demonstrates unwavering commitment to the fight to preserve the civil justice system.
Gold EAGLE
The FJA Gold EAGLE Award winners set a standard for leadership in their region by donating their time to raise EAGLE pledges as well as making their own generous contributions. They gain distinction at the highest level of EAGLE recruiting and fundraising.
Silver EAGLE
The Silver EAGLE recipients are those members who go above and beyond the call of duty and contribute immensely to our EAGLE efforts. They have stepped up in a big way to meet the needs of our organization.
Bronze EAGLE
The Bronze EAGLE recipients are those members who go to great lengths by contributing time and money to our cause. Many of these members have been very involved in EAGLE over the years and continue to be active in EAGLE. Other recipients recognized here are the up & coming fundraisers of our association and we deeply appreciate them.