The Call for Nominations for the 2022 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award is Now Closed

General Information

The Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award, NAPABA’s lifetime achievement award and highest honor, recognizes the outstanding achievements, commitment, and leadership of lawyers who have paved the way for the advancement of other Asian American Pacific Islanders attorneys. Trailblazers have demonstrated vision, courage, and tenacity in their practice. They have also made substantial and lasting contributions to the Asian American Pacific Islanders legal profession, as well as the broader Asian American Pacific Islanders community.

• Please be advised that honorees* must be: 
  • Current with their NAPABA membership;  and
  • Present to be eligible to receive award. 

To submit a nomination, scroll to the bottom of this webpage after reviewing criteria and submission details. 

Selection Criteria

The award recipient will be selected on the basis of the following factors:

1. Lifetime of achievements, commitment, and leadership that have paved the way for the:
   • Advancement of Asian American Pacific Islanders attorneys;
   • Advancement and strengthening of the Asian American Pacific Islanders community; and/or
   • Promotion of justice, equity, and opportunity for the Asian American Pacific Islanders community.
2. Inspirational pioneer or leader in his/her chosen field(s) of endeavor.
3. Accomplishments that broke a barrier(s) or resulted in attaining a goal not yet previously attained by an Asian American Pacific Islanders, including diversity and inclusion achievements such as those for:
   • Practice Area (e.g., law firm, in-house, judge, civil rights, community organization, public sector, legal education);
   • Ethnicity;
   • Gender; and/or
   • Geography.
4. Sustained encouragement of and support provided to other Asian American Pacific Islanders to advance, attain a breakthrough, or lead.
5. Prior involvement with NAPABA on a national level or at the affiliate level preferred.

Any NAPABA member, affiliate, or region may nominate an individual or more than one person for the award. 

Required Materials 

The following information must be provided in addition to the nomination form for each nominee in order for a nomination to be accepted for consideration:

1. Statement in support of nominee (no more than 10 pages). The Statement should include:
   • Details of lifetime achievements that have paved the way for the advancement of Asian American Pacific Islanders attorneys, advancement and strengthening of the Asian American Pacific Islanders community, and/or furtherance of the NAPABA mission.
   • Details of inspirational leadership in his/her chosen field(s) of endeavor.
   • Details of how accomplishments broke a barrier(s) or resulted in attaining a goal not yet previously attained by an Asian American Pacific Islanders, including diversity and inclusion achievements.
   • Details of prior involvement with NAPABA on a national level or at the affiliate level if applicable.
2. Current CV or resume of the nominee.
   
3. One or more letters of support.
   

Previous Winners

Below are the 2021 NAPABA Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award Recipients. View past recipients here. 

Questions?

Contact Operations Coordinator, Sumbal Abid.