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Nomination period: October – February
               Formerly, the Trailblazer award recognized members of the Bar from a group underrepresented
               within the Louisiana legal profession. The criteria is as follows:
               Consideration of the nominee’s achievements, commitment, vision, courage, and tenacity in one
               or more of the following ways:

               Becoming the first member of an underrepresented group within the legal profession to achieve a
               notable level of excellence or leadership within the legal professional under circumstances that
               made this accomplishment extraordinary;
               Supporting and encouraging attorneys who are members of an underrepresented group within the
               legal profession to reach their career and personal potential and ensuring opportunities for the
               advancement of diverse people;
               Advocating for the rights of diverse people  under circumstances that made this activity
               extraordinary.

               Formerly the Human Rights award recognized a bar association, law firm or law department, an
               individual attorney or judge, a court, and a community organization or individual. The criteria
               was as follows:

               Recognize outstanding efforts made in promoting diversity in the legal profession, in particular,
               to recognize efforts ensuring the full and equal opportunity of all persons for entry and
               advancement in Louisiana's legal profession.

               Additional factors considered were:  Development and demonstrated impact of programs or
               projects that address issues of access and bias in the legal profession based on race, ethnicity,
               gender, sexual orientation, disability or age; influence individuals who have been historically
               under-represented in the legal profession  to pursue legal  careers; and increase advancement
               opportunities for lawyers who have been historically under-represented in a particular job setting
               or practice area of the legal profession.

               2. The Guardian of Diversity Award now bears the new name “Louisiana State Bar Association
               Guardian of Diversity Award.” It will be awarded by the Association annually at the LSBA Annual
               meeting.

               The Guardian of Diversity Award shall recognize exceptional efforts of bar associations, courts,
               law firms/departments, and community organizations (non-profits and public interest
               organizations) within the state of Louisiana that demonstrated a sustained, long term commitment
               to encouraging, increasing and/or retaining diversity in the legal profession.





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