Every year the ABA’s DR Section announces two major awards, the D’Almeberte/Raven Award and the Lawyer as Problem Solver Award.  The awards will be presented at the ABA DR Section’s annual conference in San Francisco.  Below is a little about each award and the winner of each award.  Congratulations to all.   And, it’s always a pleasure when a law prof gets one of these awards.

 D’Alemberte/Raven Award

 The D’Alemberte/Raven Award recognizes a member of the dispute resolution community who has contributed significantly to the field by developing new or innovative programs, improvements in dispute resolution services and efficiency, research and writings in the area of dispute resolution, or continuing education programs. 

Judge Warren Knight, the founder of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS).

 Lawyer As Problem Solver Award

 The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution established the Lawyer as Problem Solver Awards to recognize individuals and organizations that use their legal skills in creative, innovative and often non-traditional ways to solve problems for their clients and within their communities.

Bennett G. Picker – Under Mr. Picker’s direction the Philadelphia law firm of Stradley Ronon was one of the very first to recognize, embrace and promote ADR within the law firm setting, including setting up an ADR practice group within the firm.

Andrew Schepard – He is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at Hofstra University School of Law, and most recently served as the Reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Collaborative Law Act (UCLA). 

Mediate.com – Mediate.com has been developing digital products and resources that have advanced the presence and depth of the field of dispute resolution in immeasurable ways and fundamentally altered the practice of mediation by making online strategies practical and available.