Sokohl Award

Why this award exists

The Sokohl Award honors Karen Sokohl, a beloved member of our community whose creativity, generosity, and passion for plain language lifted everyone around her. Karen joined the Center’s Board in 2021 and gave her time, talent, and heart to our mission. She passed away on March 11, 2025, after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer. We created this award to continue her work and celebrate people who champion plain language with the same energy and care.

About Karen Sokohl

Karen was bright, enthusiastic, witty, and always ready to help — sharing ideas for our website, creating slide decks, encouraging others, and showing up for the community whenever she could. Even while ill, she stayed connected, reminding us she was “a plain language advocate (always!).” This award keeps her impact alive in the work we do every day.

Who it recognizes

The Karen Sokohl Award recognizes an individual or organization that actively supports the use of plain language. Honorees may contribute through:

Leadership that advances plain language practices
Teaching or mentoring others
Building stronger plain language communities
Hands-on work that shows the power of clear communication

When it’s presented

The Center introduced the Sokohl Award at the 2025 ClearMark Awards. The award is presented during the annual ClearMark Awards ceremony.

How to nominate a candidate

Members of the Center are invited to nominate their candidates for the 2026 Sokohl Award by April 18, 2026.

2025 Recipient

Julie Clement

The inaugural recipient was longtime board member Julie Clement (photo).

Julie Clement is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Cooley Law School, MI, and a leading advocate in making legal and governmental language more accessible to the public. She spent more than two decades teaching future lawyers to use plain-language principles, and she currently teaches three courses in Simon Fraser University’s Plain Language Certificate program.

Julie is the president of Clarity Inc., the largest international association promoting plain legal language, served as editor-in-chief of The Clarity Journal for 14 years, and has been an active Center for Plain Language board member for over a decade. She is also on the International Plain Language Federation board. Julie consults with public institutions, courts, and legal professionals on writing, editing, and designing clear documents. She helped to develop ISO 24495-1 – the first global plain language standard – and was the project manager for ISO 24495-2, which focuses specifically on legal communication. She is also the Deputy Clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court.

Julie always makes time to help others and mentor them on the topic of plain language. She consistently goes above and beyond to support plain language — well beyond her many official roles. Julie’s tireless efforts and generous spirit truly reflect the values Karen championed: practical clarity, generosity, and service to the community.