September 24, 2026 | 6:30 PM
The NLADA Exemplar Awards honor members of the corporate counsel and private law firm communities who demonstrate outstanding leadership, vision, dedication, and achievement in advancing equal justice. Exemplar Honorees are recognized for their invaluable commitment to pro bono and public service, as well as their support of NLADA’s mission to ensure equal access to justice for all. The event also features the Kutak-Dodds Prizes, which recognize the accomplishments of one civil legal aid attorney and one public defender, and the Beacon of Justice Awards, presented to members of the pro bono legal community who are tireless advocates for equal justice.
Individual tickets are available at $250 and $150 for Public-Service Advocates. There are limited quantities of both available. For any questions or group purchases, please reach out to [email protected].
Purchase Tickets Sponsor the 2026 Exemplar Awards Gala Meet the 2026 Host Committee Donate
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kate Denman at [email protected].
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 one civil legal aid attorney and one public defender. These attorneys, through the practice of law, are reinforcing the principle and reality of justice for all under the law. Each prize carries a cash award of $10,000. The winners will be recognized at NLADA’s annual Exemplar Awards Gala in Washington, DC.
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.
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
*As of August 13th
Chairman
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
Patron
Uber
Benefactor
Amazon
Mutual of America Financial Group
Relativity
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Beacon of Justice Sponsor
Akin Gump LLP
Dentons US LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP
The Morrison Foerster Foundation*
U.S Bank*
Mentor
Baker McKenzie
Latham & Watkins LLP
McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
Wilson Sonsini Foundation
Ambassador
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
McCarter & English LLP
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
Morgan Stanley
Nixon Peabody LLP
Shook Hardy Bacon LLP
Squire Patton Boggs LLP
The Levinson Group
The Steptoe Foundation
Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
Venable LLP
Zuckerman Spaeder LLP
Friend
Alston & Bird LLP
Dechert LLP
Defender Association of Philadelphia
Hanson Bridgett LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Stinson LLP
Wiley Rein LLP
*Not a 2026 Beacon of Justice Awardee