BCBA Awards 

The Sonny Flowers Award of Merit

 2025 Recipient: Laurel Herndon 

The Award of Merit is the highest honor given to a member of the Boulder County Bar Association. It is presented to a Boulder County lawyer in recognition of their substantial dedication to the legal process: an unsung hero whose contributions may have gone unnoticed, but who personifies the very best in the profession. The Award of Merit was given out concurrently with the Ron Porter award until 2003 when the two awards were merged into the Ron Porter Award of Merit. In 2021, the Award of Merit was renamed in honor of Sonny Flowers.

The BCBA has chosen to award the 2025 Sonny Flowers Award of Merit to Laurel Herndon largely because of her commitment to the community which is evident by her countless years of service to our immigrant community. Laurel has been a tireless advocate for people coming to this country and has fought to make our community in Boulder a welcoming place with unwavering focus and dedication. In 2005, she founded the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County. This organization provides free and low-cost immigration legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education. Since its founding, the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County has served thousands of Boulder County residents in their immigration legal needs. This work is life-changing. It keeps families together, allows for economic growth, and provides people with a strong sense of stability. Laurel has also been a tremendous advocate for the immigrant community outside of immigration court. She has advocated for better information and community education on issues affecting the immigrant community. She is a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, but she also puts that advocacy into action. She has served countless clients and families and continues to provide pro bono service to our community. She has truly dedicated her career to public service and personifies the best of our profession.

Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year

2025 Recipient: Alison Gordon

The Young Lawyer Award is presented in recognition of the achievement of a lawyer in practice in Boulder County who has been admitted into the bar for less than 5 years, or who is 37 years old or younger; whose energy, enthusiasm and ability have contributed significantly during the past year through volunteer services to the community, bar association activities or significant legal achievements. 

The BCBA has chosen to honor Alison Gordon for the 2025 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award due to her commitment to helping the juvenile community through her work in criminal defense. She always puts her clients and her community first and is always eager to help in whatever way she can. Alison has devoted herself to assisting underrepresented groups and the Boulder community as a whole.