Maslon Honored with 2024 Community Impact Award from Minnesota Women Lawyers for Teen Mock Trial Program

Maslon is pleased and proud to announce that it has been chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Community Impact Award from Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL). Maslon was selected on the basis of its UPLIFT Legal Institute for Teens program, an after-school mock trial program for middle-school students that the firm founded in 2016 to address the appalling lack of diversity in the legal profession.

UPLIFT provides students who reflect the rich diversity of the Twin Cities with the opportunity to not only learn about the legal profession, but see themselves in it. They learn from volunteer attorneys and law students about the job of a lawyer, criminal justice, and the court system. Through the experience, students also build confidence, develop analytical and speaking skills, foster long term vision, and create a framework to pursue academic excellence in high school. The program culminates in mock trials held before Minnesota judges.

"Without question, UPLIFT represents the ideals of this award by making a positive impact on the greater community by inspiring hope; embodying leadership, inclusiveness, and civility; and striving for a just society," said Debra Pexa, executive director of Minnesota Women Lawyers.

Maslon supported the creation of UPLIFT in 2016 when one of the firm’s accomplished litigators, Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, transitioned to the role of Public Interest Counsel and set out to launch a novel legal diversity pipeline program in the Twin Cities. Catherine, who now works with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, continues to serve on the UPLIFT board of directors as chair.

"We are unequivocally committed to supporting UPLIFT," said Maslon Board Chair Keiko Sugisaka. "The integrity of our firm—and the legal profession—rests on our dedication to making the practice of law accessible to those who have historically been excluded from it."

Illustrating that commitment, Maslon hired attorney CB Baga in early 2024 to steward the firm’s continued investment in UPLIFT following Catherine’s transition to the ACLU-MN. As Public Interest and DEI Counsel, CB also serves as the firm’s first dedicated attorney resource for the advancement of both pro bono work and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The Community Impact Award will be presented May 15 at MWL's 52nd Annual Meeting.

For more information, go to Minnesota Women Lawyers Announces Recipients of Its 2024 Annual Awards.