Exemplar Awards

NLADA will honor Relativity and its Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legal Officer, Adam Weiss, with the 2026 Exemplar Award, recognizing their leadership in advancing equal justice through support for legal aid and pro bono organizations.

The Exemplar Award is one of NLADA's highest honors. Presented annually, it recognizes one or more members of the private bar or corporate community who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting and supporting equal justice.

In his role at Relativity, Weiss helps lead one of the world's leading legal data intelligence companies, whose AI platform supports litigation, investigations, regulatory inquiries, data breach response and other legal use cases. He has championed Relativity's commitment to expanding access to justice through initiatives such as the company’s Justice for Change program, which provides Relativity's technology at no cost to organizations supporting pro bono legal work.

"It is an honor to receive the NLADA Exemplar Award on behalf of Relativity. At Relativity, we believe technology can help make the pursuit of justice more accessible and effective. We’re proud to use our technology and resources to support organizations advancing justice, and we’re deeply grateful for this recognition."
- Adam Weiss

Each Exemplar honoree has made invaluable commitments and contributions to pro bono and public service and supported NLADA’s work to provide equal access to justice for all. Click HERE to see all past Exemplar awardees.

Kutak-Dodds Prizes

Each year NLADA and the Robert J. Kutak Foundation jointly awards the Kutak-Dodds Prizes to honor the accomplishments of a civil legal aid attorney and a public defender. NLADA has named Ariella Hyman, Paula Sen and Michael Mellon recipients of the 2026 Kutak-Dodds Prizes, honoring their extraordinary contributions to civil legal aid, public defense, and the pursuit of equal justice.

The 2026 Kutak-Dodds Prize Civil Legal Aid winner Ariella Hyman is the Director of Program and Advocacy at Bay Area Legal Aid. For 34 years, Hyman has worked to advance justice for low-income communities at Bay Area Legal Aid and its predecessor, San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition from NLADA and the Kutak Foundation. It reflects the extraordinary work and impact of my BayLegal colleagues, the courage of our clients, and the strength of our longstanding partnerships—including with NLADA! —in advancing access to justice and racial equity for low-income communities,” said Hyman.

The joint 2026 Kutak-Dodds Prize Defender winners Paula Sen and Michael Mellons are attorneys at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where they co-lead the Police Accountability Unit. Sen and Mellon have also helped shape major police reform efforts in Philadelphia.

“I am honored and rather humbled to receive this award from the Robert J. Kutak Foundation and the NLADA,” said Mellon. “I greatly appreciate being recognized by both organizations who are so important in advancing justice and promoting excellence in the representation of all who need assistance.”

“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by the Robert J. Kutak Foundation and NLADA for this work I feel so privileged to do,” said Sen. “No one dedicates their career to indigent criminal defense for accolades, so it is both surprising and deeply affecting to be acknowledged in this way. This award is also extra special in that it celebrates the team work that is necessary to challenge systemic injustice in the criminal legal system and it is with all those with whom I work every day in mind that I accept it humbly and gratefully.”

Each winner will be honored at the NLADA Exemplar Award Gala on Thursday, September 24, in Washington, DC. Click HERE to see all past Kutak-Dodds Prize winners.

Beacon of Justice Awards

NLADA’s Beacon of Justice Awards honor members of the pro bono legal community who are tireless advocates for equal justice. The 2026 Beacon of Justice Awards recognize law firms addressing issues related to “Protecting Democracy and Civil Rights” for work done in 2025.

The 2026 Beacon of Justice Award honorees include Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Alston & Bird LLP, Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP, BakerHostetler LLP, Baker McKenzie, Beveridge & Diamond P.C., BraunHagey & Borden LLP, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP,Dechert LLP, Dentons US LLP, DLA Piper LLP (US), Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, Fried Frank LLP, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Goodwin Procter LLP, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Jenner & Block LLP, Lowenstein Sandler LLP, McCarter & English LLP, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C., Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Nixon Peabody LLP, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Steptoe LLP, Stinson LLP, Venable LLP, Wiley LLP, Wills for the People, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C., and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.

2026 Sponsors
As of August 24th

*Not a 2026 Beacon of Justice Awardee