The Illinois State Bar Association announced on Apr. 23 the recipients of its awards for the 2025-2026 bar year, recognizing individuals and organizations for their contributions to the legal profession and community.
These annual awards highlight achievements in areas such as pro bono service, diversity leadership, legal education, and community involvement. The association said that a more detailed listing of award recipients and summaries of their accomplishments will be published in the June edition of the Illinois Bar Journal.
Among those honored are Jessica Marshall with the Austin Fleming Newsletter Editor Award; Gail Eisenberg with the Carole K. Bellows Women of Influence Award; Athena Taite with the Diversity Leadership Award; Judge Jennifer S. Nolen with the Elmer Gertz Human Rights Award; Genevieve Miller with the CLE Achievement Award; Megan Brooks with the Law Enforcement Award; Akanksha Balekai from University of Illinois College of Law with the Law Student Division Public Service Award; Jennifer Irmen with the Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award; Dina Ninfo with the Richard H. Teas Legislative Support Award; Dr. Mary Milano with Roz Kaplan Government Service Award; Taylor Tyler (Cook County) and Jason Blumenthal (outside Cook County) as Young Lawyers of the Year, among others.
The association recognizes excellence through various honors including those for pro bono service and diversity leadership according to its official website. It also promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion to foster participation among all attorneys while enhancing community wellbeing according to its official website.
The Illinois State Bar Association is a voluntary organization founded in 1877 that assists lawyers in professional development and justice improvements while supporting pro bono efforts and access to justice according to its official website. The association serves more than 28,000 members statewide according to its official website, offering continuing legal education programs, practice management resources, professional networking opportunities according to its official website, and operates under an elected president along with a Board of Governors and an Assembly according to its official website.
Administrative functions are managed at The Illinois Bar Center which supports both educational operations and member services according to its official website.
