News Archive

Students, faculty, alumni and staff gathered in the Inlow Hall atrium to celebrate the service given by participants in IU McKinney’s Pro Bono and Clinical Programs. The reception was held April 21.

IU McKinney students contributed 20,191 hours of pro bono service from 73 graduates. A total of 49 students contributed 17,765 pro bono hours, qualifying them for the Norman Lefstein Award of Excellence. These awards are presented to students who contribute more than 200 hours of pro bono service during their law school careers. Thirteen students contributed 1,658 hours of service, qualifying them for the Silver award, and 11 students contributed 768 hours of service to earn the Bronze award.

LaWanda Ward, ’03, director of Pro Bono Program and Public Interest, presented Tarah Baldwin with the John Paul Berlon Award. Baldwin (in the photo at left) was honored in recognition of the 1,013 hours of pro bono service she contributed throughout her law school career.

Professor Carrie Hagan, director of the Civil Practice Clinic, presented Chris Mueller with the Outstanding Clinic Student award.

No one would blame law students for not taking part in pro bono service because their lives are so busy, said IU McKinney Dean Andrew Klein. “But that you have chosen to do so anyway reflects well on you.”

Justice Brent Dickson, ’68, of the Indiana Supreme Court, presented the keynote address. He spoke about how critical pro bono service is to the smooth operation of the court system, as well as its importance to litigants themselves who otherwise would be represented pro se. The issue of litigants going into court unrepresented is always top of mind when the high court visits trial court judges throughout the state, Justice Dickson said.