Public Interest Awards

The 2024 Public Interest Awards will be held Tuesday, April 16, 2024 

Past Event: 2023 Public Interest Awards - April 19th, 2023 

Program

Give to the Public Interest Center

A Celebration of Service

The Chicago-Kent College of Law Public Interest Awards is the premier annual event for students, alumni, and community partners who have shown true commitment to volunteer service. Held at the Conviser Law Center in Spring, the PIA honors students who have dedicated hundreds of hours of their time; features alumni speakers who are leaders in their fields; and recognizes outside organizations that have worked closely with Chicago-Kent.

The event’s signature honor is the Ronald W. Staudt Public Interest Partner Award, which goes to a community partner that has shown remarkable commitment to Chicago-Kent and has provided unique and/or ongoing opportunities to its students.

In 2023, the Vivien C. Gross Pro Bono & Public Interest Leadership Award was given for the first time to recognize a graduating law student who has made outstanding contributions to public interest law through their pro bono contributions as well as leadership. This honor is given in memory of faculty member Vivien C. Gross. 

The event celebrates Chicago-Kent students who have received their J.D. Certificate in Public Interest Law; those who have volunteered at the college’s Constitutional Democracy Project and Patent Hub; those who have received Justice Stevens Public Interest Fellowships; and environmental Alvin H. Baum Fellowships.

Students who have completed over 50 hours of volunteer service are recognized with Chicago-Kent Certificate of Service, those who have completed over 250 hours are recognized with the Dean’s Distinguished Public Service Award, and those who complete 400 hours are recognized with the Dean's Exemplary Public Service Award. A single graduating student is recognized for completing the most volunteer service with the Pro Bono Leader Award.