Zöe Odei Young Lawyers’ Award

Established in 2003, this award is in memory of the late Zöe Odei of Halifax, an active CBA member who exemplified the distinguished and exceptional service contemplated by this Award. The award honours and recognizes a young lawyer’s distinguished or exceptional service to the Association, the community or charitable causes. 

Eligibility

The Zöe Odei Young Lawyers Award is open to any CBA member in good standing of the Nova Scotia Branch who is a young lawyer as defined by the Bylaws of the Association. A young lawyer is currently defined as someone who is not more than 10 years at the Bar or not older than 40 years of age. Table Officers of the Nova Scotia Branch are not eligible for this Award. A deceased CBA member may only be nominated for the Award in the year in which they die.

Criteria

The committee will assess the nominations on the following criteria: 

  • Supporting the work of CBA Nova Scotia in one or all of the following areas:
    • improvement in the law,
    • improvement in the administration of justice,
    • individual lawyer training,
    • advocacy in the public interest.
  • Active participation in a charitable or non-profit organization.
  • Implementation of special events or programs including assisting community or charitable organizations through periods of difficulty, change or restructuring.
  • Contributions as a volunteer through education or promotion of volunteerism by way of ideas, practices or publications.
  • Continued performance and effort over a period of years in a variety of volunteer activities which has resulted in the enhancement and improvement of the organization, activity or community.

Nomination Procedure 

Nominations must contain an explanation of how the nominee has demonstrated distinguished or exceptional service to the Association, the community or charitable causes, providing examples of how the nominee has met the nomination criteria (max 2,000 characters).

Nominations must also be supported by a letter or email endorsing the nominee (provided by a person or organization other than the nominator). Additional supporting information (e.g. copies of media mentions, advocacy work, publications, presentations, pro-bono contributions, special initiatives, etc.) may also be provided.

Nominations must include confirmation that the nominee is aware of the nomination and will attend the award presentation.

Deadline

TBD

Selection Process

The Award is administered by the Nominating Committee, a standing Committee of the Nova Scotia Branch. The Committee may determine that no Award shall be granted in any one year.

Presentation

The Award is presented annually at the AGM or other CBA-NS event.

Additional Information

For more information please contact:

Canadian Bar Association - Nova Scotia
Tel: (902) 422-1905
E-mail: cbainfo@cbans.ca

Past Recipients

2024 - Nicolas Foran 

2022 - Andrea MacNevin 

2021 - Emma M. MacIntosh 

2020 - Victor Ryan 

2019 - Morgan Manzer 

2018 - Ryan Brothers 

2017 - Jack Townsend 

2016 - Jennifer L. Taylor 

2015 - Jennifer Kooren 

2014 - Daniel Wallace 

2012 - Sharon Avery 

 2011 - Amy Sakalauskas

2010 - Level Chan 

2009 - Carrie Ricker 

2008 - Joshua Judah 

2007 - M. Ann Levangie 

2006 - Michael J. Messenger 

2005 - James G. Rossiter 

2004 - Jeanne E. Desveaux 

2003 - Sean Foreman