The Consumer Attorney of the Year Award shall go to an attorney member, or members working together, who significantly advanced the rights or safety of consumers in the State of California by achieving a noteworthy result in a case. Nominees for the Consumer Attorney of the Year award must be CAOC members in good standing who are the principal attorneys named on the pleadings in the case. To be eligible for consideration, the case must have been filed and resolved in state or federal court in California and reached final resolution between May 15, 2025, and May 15, 2026. “Finally resolved” means no further legal work of any kind by any party will occur, including post-trial motions or appeals.

Factors to be considered include:

• Whether the case demonstrates how the civil justice system works to provide justice to victims, prevent fraud or abuse, change behavior, take dangerous products off the market, or hold wrongdoers accountable;
• Whether the case exemplifies how attorneys representing consumers or victims use their skill and determination to create a more just society;
• Whether the case demonstrates a particular skill of the attorney in achieving the result;
• Whether the attorney faced and overcame unusual obstacles, great risk, or incredible odds;
• Whether the case and/or attorney stands out in comparison to similar case results;
• Service to CAOC.

The amount of any verdict or resolution may be a factor to be considered, but is not as significant a factor as those listed above. A case may be nominated for Consumer Attorney of the Year or Street Fighter of the Year (if eligible), but not both.

We encourage all members to submit their most significant results, including those attorneys who are a member of a historically underrepresented group within the legal profession, such as women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ lawyers.