Celebrating Excellence in Elder and Special Needs Law
Each year, we honor outstanding contributions to the field of elder and special needs law through a series of prestigious awards and scholarships. These recognitions celebrate the dedication, innovation, and advocacy that define our community.
For a complete list of current and past recipients, please click on the links below to each/any of NAELA's Awards.
NAELA Fellows of the Academy, Honoring Excellence and Leadership
Selection as a NAELA Fellow is the highest honor the Academy bestows. It reflects peer recognition of an attorney as a leader, an exceptional practitioner, and a model for others in the field of elder and special needs law. They are recognized not only for their outstanding professional achievements, but also for their steadfast commitment to advancing the mission of the Academy and improving the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities.
NAELA Foundation Future Advocates Law School Scholarship Program
The NAELA Future Advocates Scholarship Program is designed to increase law student exposure to elder and special needs law by financially supporting their enrollment in a qualifying academic course. The programs fosters early interest in this vital and evolving practice area and helped build a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of future advocates committee to serving older adults and individuals with disabilities.
NAELA John J. Regan Writing Award
This annual award recognizes outstanding authorship and thought leadership in the NAELA Journal. It is presented in memory of John J. Regan — a founding NAELA member, a past NAELA president, a NAELA Fellow, and a pioneer in elder law. Professor Regan helped establish NAELA’s character and its ethical and holistic culture. The award seeks to inspire ongoing high-quality article submissions to the NAELA Journal.
The Powley Elder Law Award
This award is presented to a NAELA member who has demonstrated a commitment to promote, in the minds of the general public, a greater understanding of the rights and needs of older Americans and people with disabilities, and how elder law attorneys advocate for those rights. The award is established in the memory of Wes and Helen Powley, grandparents of NAELA member Tim Takacs. Both Wes and Helen were active in civic affairs for all of their lives, and Wes practiced dentistry well into his 80s. The award is funded by a grant from the Takacs Family Foundation.
NAELA President's Award
Each year, the current NAELA President selects an outstanding individual to receive the President’s Recognition Award. NAELA will make a donation to the recipient’s organization of choice.
Charles P. Sabatino Excellence in Public Policy Award
The Charles P. Sabatino Excellence in Public Policy Award is named after and was first presented to Charles “Charlie” Sabatino. The Award recognized his many years of dedication and exemplary service to NAELA and its public policy efforts. Future awards will continue to recognize those NAELA members who have made significant contributions to reaching NAELA’s public policy mission.
The Theresa Award
The Theresa Award is an annual community service award presented by the Theresa Alessandra Russo Foundation to a NAELA member in recognition of his or her advocacy and support of individuals with disabilities.