The Ladder Award honors a Connecticut woman attorney who has “left the ladder down” for women to follow in her footsteps, and values the importance of leadership development, mentoring, and supporting junior lawyers in their journeys to success. The award is presented by the Young Lawyers Section Women in the Law Committee at the annual Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers event.

Nominate A Candidate for the 2025 Ladder Award

Submit a letter of recommendation to amorelli@ctbar.org by Friday, October 4, 2024.

  • Letters should be no longer than two pages, describing the extent, type, and character of the leadership provided by the nominee, and give specific evidence of excellence worthy of this recognition.
  • Nominees will be evaluated on the basis of their outstanding contributions to women's leadership development in terms of impact, sustainability, comprehensiveness, distinguished excellence, and leadership empowerment, particularly in mentoring junior women attorneys.
  • A curriculum vitae, biography, or resume of the candidate may also be included with the nomination letter.

Past Ladder Award Recipients

2007 Hon. Anne C. Dranginis (Ret.)

2008 Rosemary E. Giuliano
2009 Kathleen L. Brandt
2010 Margaret A. Deluca
2012 Hon. Elizabeth J. Stewart
2013 Maureen Danehy Cox
2014 Hon. Nada K. Sizemore
2015 Diane W. Whitney
2016 Tanya A. Bovée
2017 Hon. Maria A. Kahn
2018 Deirdre M. Daly
2019 Hon. Lynda B. Munro (Ret.)
2020 Elaine S. Amendola
2022 Elizabeth A. Alquist
2023 Tanyee Cheung
2024 Hon. Evelyn M. Daly

Ladder Award News

  • Judge Daly Ladder Award Website Thumbnail The Honorable Evelyn M. Daly Receives the 2024 Ladder Award

    Monday, March 11, 2024

    The CBA Women in the Law Section, in association with the CBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Women in the Law Committee, presented the 2024 Ladder Award to the Honorable Evelyn M. Daly at this year’s Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers event on March 7 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
  • 2023 Pathways Thumbnail Attorney Tanyee Cheung Receives 2023 Ladder Award

    Tuesday, March 14, 2023

    The CBA Women in the Law Section, in association with the CBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Women in the Law Committee, honored Tanyee “Tan” Cheung as the 2023 recipient of the Ladder Award at Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers on March 2 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
  • Beth Alquist-2 (Square) Attorney Elizabeth A. Alquist Receives 2022 Ladder Award

    Monday, March 14, 2022

    The CBA Women in the Law Section, in association with the CBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Women in the Law Committee, honored Attorney Elizabeth “Beth” A. Alquist as the 2022 recipient of the Ladder Award at “Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers,” on March 3 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.
  • 2019 Ladder Award Winner Hon. Lynda B. Munro and her colleagues, Hon. Anne C. Dranginis and CBA Past President Livia D. Barndollar (2008-2009), both of Pullman & Comley LLC. Retired Superior Court Judge Lynda B. Munro Receives 2019 Ladder Award

    Tuesday, April 2, 2019

    The CBA Women in the Law Section, in association with the CBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Women in the Law Committee, honored retired Connecticut Superior Court Judge Lynda B. Munro as the 2019 recipient of the Ladder Award at "Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers," held on March 28 at Saint Clements Castle in Portland, CT.
  • Former US Attorney Deirdre M. Daly Receives 2018 Ladder Award

    Friday, April 6, 2018

    The CBA Women in the Law Section in association with the CBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Women in the Law Committee honored former US Attorney Deirdre M. Daly as the 2018 recipient of the Ladder Award at, “Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers,” held on March 28 at the Sheraton Hartford South in Rocky Hill.