American Association for Justice Honors Talenfeld for a Career Dedicated to Protecting Children
Howard M. Talenfeld, a top children’s rights attorney and Business Unit Leader of Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, was honored by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) as the recipient of the 2024 Trial Lawyers Care Award. Talenfeld received this prestigious national award at the AAJ Leadership Luncheon on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
The Trial Lawyers Care Award recognizes the efforts of members and trial lawyer-affiliated individuals who serve the community and foster positive relationships with the public through volunteer activities.
For the past two decades, Talenfeld has been zealously committed to helping youth in foster care through his role as founding Board President of the award-winning nonprofit organization Florida’s Children First (FCF) (www.floridaschildrenfirst.org). From what started as a dream of Talenfeld’s when he realized that children in state care needed an army of advocates to give them a voice, FCF has become Florida’s most prominent advocacy organization for at-risk children in the state, protecting tens of thousands of children and impacting child welfare policy nationwide. Talenfeld and the FCF team have been responsible for significant legislation, executive and judicial branch advocacy, and training attorneys, guardians and other child advocates throughout Florida. Talenfeld is particularly proud that FCF has created and serves as a platform for Florida Youth Shine (www.floridaschildrenfirst.org/florida-youth-shine/). This organization operates 15 chapters consisting of more than 350 current and former youth in foster care throughout Florida who learn advocacy skills and pass their own critical legislation.
Talenfeld is known for having established a robust children’s rights and personal injury practice spanning Florida and expanding into other states including New York, North Carolina, and Illinois. His work on behalf of children in foster care and children with disabilities has improved many lives and resulted in precedent-setting judicial decisions and legislative reforms.
“I am truly honored to accept this recognition from the American Association for Justice and hope that I can inspire other great trial lawyers to protect vulnerable children in local and state child protection and disability systems,” Talenfeld said.
Earlier this year, Talenfeld was recognized on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers as one of only six lawyers on the list nationally selected for his work in Civil Rights Law. He has consistently been selected by Florida Trend magazine for its annual Florida 500 list acknowledging his influential impact in Florida as a voice for children. Additionally, he was recognized by The Florida Bar Foundation as the recipient of the 2018 Medal of Honor Award for a Lawyer, and he received The Florida Bar’s President’s Award of Merit and the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the 17th Judicial Circuit.
With members worldwide and a network of U.S. and Canadian affiliates involved in diverse areas of trial advocacy, AAJ provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance needed to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system.
