Nominations are now open for the tenth annual Outstanding New Lawyer of the Year Award!
This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight a new attorney in your network who has shown outstanding dedication to the MSBA or a local bar affiliate. Consideration is also given to the nominee's pro bono work, community service, contributions to diversity, and professional achievements.
To be eligible, a nominee must be a licensed attorney under 36 years of age or in practice less than 6 years. All licensed attorneys are eligible to submit a nomination.
Nominations are due by May 1, 2023.
2021-2022 Award Recipient
Abou B. Amara, Jr. is a third-year associate attorney at Gustafson Gluek PLLC, focusing his practice on complex class action litigation matters in the antitrust, civil rights, constitutional, consumer protection, and products liability arenas. Earlier this year, Abou was named an “Up and Coming Attorney” by the Minnesota Lawyer publication.
Abou is an active member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Minnesota Coalition of Bar Associations of Color. In addition, Abou currently serves as the Vice President of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers.
In addition to his practice and bar activities, Abou devotes significant time to pro bono representation through the Pro Se Project, a joint initiative of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. The Pro Se Project focuses on improving access to Minnesota’s federal court system and the unique challenges civil pro se litigants face. Since joining the Minnesota Bar in 2019, Abou has provided over 300 hours of pro bono legal services. Abou was awarded the 2021 MSBA NorthStar Lawyer Award in recognition of his commitment to providing legal services to those most in need.
Before joining Gustafson Gluek PLLC, Abou clerked on the Minnesota Supreme Court for Associate Justice Anne K. McKeig and Associate Justice Paul C. Thissen. During law school, Abou was a two-time National Moot Court champion—earning “Best Oralist” at both the 2018 William E. McGee National Moot Court Competition on Civil Rights and the 2019 Evan A. Evans National Moot Court Competition on Constitutional Law. Abou was elected by his law school classmates to serve as commencement speaker. Prior to law school, Abou had an extensive career in the public affairs and lawmaking arena, including serving as a top aide to the Minnesota Speaker of the House. He was, and remains, a sought-after speaker and commentator on Minnesota public affairs and civic life. In 2014, Abou was named by Twin Cities Business Magazine to its “100 Minnesotans to Know” list and honored as a “Shaper of the Future” by the publication.
Past Award Recipients
2020-2021
Nysha OperanaInti Martínez-Alemán
2019-2020
Kyle Kroll
2018-2019
Sarah Soucie Eyberg
2017-2018
Erica Holzer
2016-2017
Landon Ascheman
2016-2016
Michael Boulette
2014-2015
Irene Kao
2013-2014
Adine Momoh