Florida Bar Honors Miami Law Alumnus Burton Young with Humanitarian Award

Burton Young, a marital and family lawyer who graduated from Miami Law in 1967, has received the G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award from the Florida Bar for his service to the legal profession. The award recognizes an attorney who has an abiding respect and caring for others.

By UM News 07-02-2012

Young was the first Jewish-American president of the Florida Bar, where he pushed lawyers to do more pro bono work. He also served as president of the Florida Bar Foundation. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and served as President of its Florida chapter from 1981 to 1983. He is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. For his achievements and contributions, Young received the 2010 Alumnus of Distinction honor from Miami Law, from which he graduated with an LLB in 1950. (In 1967, a JD replaced the original Bachelor of Laws degree). He also has taught ethics at Miami Law as an adjunct professor.

Young has been recognized by Naifeh & Smith's "The Best Lawyers in America," Seaview Putnam's "The Best Lawyers in the U.S.," and was named one of the 43 top divorce lawyers in the nation by the National Law Journal. Peer reviews have noted his high level of legal ability and professional standards. He has received many other recognitions, including the Legal Legend Award from the Historical Society in 2007, the Distinguished Floridian Award from Florida International University and Forum of North Dade County in 1993, and the Distinguished Fellow Award from the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 1995.

The Florida Bar Foundation awarded Young the Medal of Honor and the President's Award of Merit in 1998. Young received the First Professionalism Award from the First Family Law American Inn of Court in 1999 and the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award in 2001.

"He has always been an advocate for the less privileged and for justice," said Frank Angones, JD '76, a past president of the Florida Bar who was mentored by Young before applying to law school. "He's a lion of the legal profession and he is still fighting battles."

The G. Kirk Haas Award was established in 1998 by the Florida Bar, whose president selects a recipient each year. The award triggers a scholarship for a second-year student, at a law school of the winner's choice, who demonstrates a high degree of integrity, ethics, professionalism and concern for others.