Each year, The American Lawyer highlights exceptional work done by members of the legal profession who went above and beyond their day jobs. These honorees made a difference in  the world, giving others a voice, protecting democracy and highlighting the lengths one can go with when combining passion with a law degree.

The winner was revealed Wednesday, Nov. 15 at The American Lawyer Industry Awards at Ciprianis in New York, where they were joined by more than 600 others celebrating the many ways in which the legal profession impacts the broader society around it.