The field of law “is a sink or swim environment,” said Scott Westfahl, director of personal development of Goodwin Procter LLP, during a Section of Litigation-sponsored program Thursday on hiring and developing better lawyers.

The American Bar Association is honoring an Illinois regional bench-bar collaboration, an Indiana State Bar mentoring program, and a Miami, Fla., law school initiative as national exemplars of innovative legal professionalism programming.

The American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section is honoring lawyer James M. Proctor II of Birmingham, Ala., with its Andrew C. Hecker Memorial Award. The award, named in honor of the late Andrew C. Hecker of Philadelphia, is presented annually to lawyers who consistently demonstrate leadership, outreach, enthusiasm, professionalism, and pride in TIPS and its accomplishments.

The American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section is honoring lawyer Kathleen Zellner of Chicago with its Pursuit of Justice Award, which recognizes lawyers and judges who have shown outstanding merit and who excel in providing access to justice for all. “The TIPS Plaintiffs Policy Task Force was very pleased to nominate Kathleen Zellner for the Pursuit of Justice Award,” said Task Force Chair James A. Wells of Philadelphia.

American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section is honoring lawyer Peter A. Antonucci of New York with its Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Service Award. The award recognizes TIPS members who have the attributes embodied by Sen. Muskie: his dedication to justice for all citizens, his public service, and his role as a lawyer and distinguished leader of the section.

The American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section will honor Chicago lawyer Sandra S. Yamate as the 2012 recipient of the TIPS Liberty Achievement Award. The award, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, will be presented to Yamate during the TIPS Welcome and Diversity Reception on Friday, Aug. 3, at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence has selected attorney Loretta Frederick as the recipient of the 2012 Sharon L. Corbitt Award. The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence created this award in 2008 to recognize service by lawyers from all areas of practice who demonstrate exemplary service to victims of domestic violence.

The ABA House of Delegates voted unanimously to give the Law Student Division a voice on the Board of Governors at the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto in August. The 2011-2012 year will be the first time since the division was created that they will be able to vote.

Business law is a common denominator among many of the most intriguing jobs in the national security and defense industries. Members of an American Bar Association Section of Business Law panel have worked in and around the fields of national defense and homeland security, from the military to TSA and beyond. Their perspectives on the trends and expansion of this practice area since 9/11 informed audience members about a career path they may not have appreciated.

Elaine R. Jones received the American Bar Association Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities Thurgood Marshall Award Aug. 6 during the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto.

Marc W. Joseph, general counsel for Dallas-based Haggar Clothing Co., first hired outside lawyers 20 years ago when he was heading a major antitrust case for another company and needed document coding.

The ABA 2011 Annual Meeting, held August 4-9 in Toronto, is the premiere conference of legal professionals in the United States. Check here throughout the meeting for each day’s event highlights.