The National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) has selected the Law & Culture Day CLE Series as the recipient of the 2025 NABE/LexisNexis Community & Education Outreach Award in the category of bar associations with fewer than 18,000 members. This national honor recognizes the Alaska Bar Association (AK Bar) and the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) for their collaborative efforts in delivering culturally responsive legal education in Alaska. The award will be presented to the AK Bar at the National Association of Bar Executives Annual Meeting in Toronto on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
The Law & Culture Day CLE was designed to deepen understanding of the unique legal needs, values, and traditions of Alaska Native communities. By bringing together legal professionals, cultural educators, and tribal leaders, the program fosters cultural competence and encourages respectful, informed engagement across tribal and state justice systems.
The inaugural program was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, drawing nearly 50 attendees for a full day of education and discussion.
The event was inspired by ANJC’s Alaska Native Law and Culture Day, launched in 2022, an annual gathering of Alaska-based law clerks to learn about Alaska’s unique legal landscape. The goal of ANJC’s Law and Culture Day is to provide participants a deeper understanding of Alaska Native law and a stronger awareness of Alaska as an Indigenous place. This year’s ANJC Alaska Native Law and Culture Day will be held June 23.
The 2025 NABE/LexisNexis Community & Education Outreach Award reflects the AK Bar and ANJC’s shared commitment to advancing cultural awareness and building stronger bridges between legal systems in Alaska. It is part of a broader CLE initiative focused on improving legal practice in rural and cross-cultural settings throughout the state.
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About the Alaska Bar Association (AK Bar)
The AK Bar is the regulatory agency responsible for the admission and discipline process of attorneys in the state. It supports the professional development of its members through programs and events while promoting access to justice across Alaska. The AK Bar is dedicated to protecting the community, upholding the integrity of our justice system, and promoting professionalism and quality attorneys.
About the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC)
Established in 1993 to address the unmet justice needs of Alaska Native and American Indian people, ANJC provides legal assistance and advocacy for individuals and Tribes to restore dignity, respect, and humanity to all Alaska Native people.