Annual Awards Tradition

While the awards ceremony at USC Gould is an annual rite of spring, this year’s marked the first time that Dean Andrew Guzman presided over the honors.

“I’ve been looking forward to sharing in this tradition, as it provides an opportunity to gather the entire law school community to formally acknowledge the achievements of our own faculty, staff and students,” said Guzman, who joined Gould in July 2015.

Professor Michael Chasalow received the Student Bar Association award for outstanding faculty member and the William A. Rutter Distinguished Teaching Award. He is pictured here with the Rutter family.

Professor Michael Chasalow was honored with both the Student Bar Association award for outstanding faculty member and the William A. Rutter Distinguished Teaching Award. “In my opinion, the Rutter award is the most meaningful award in legal education,” said Guzman.

The award, named for the legendary educator and 1955 USC Gould alumnus, was created to honor classroom teaching. “Professor Chasalow has excelled in teaching both JD and LLM students, combining deep knowledge of his subject matter with a flair for making potentially dry topics interesting, and a knack for motivating students to see the issues from the point of view of a lawyer advising a client,” Guzman said.

Rutter’s widow Sally, son Paul and step-son Barry attended the ceremony.

Chasalow also received the Outstanding Professor of the Year award from the Student Bar Association. “Not only is Professor Chasalow passionate about the law, but he is also passionate about teaching and truly cares about his students,” said SBA President Alex Hurd ’16. “He makes the classroom an engaging, and open environment.”

“I appreciate both awards very much,” Chasalow told the ceremony’s lunchtime audience of students, faculty and staff. “I love being here and working with all of you.”

West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman ‘82 received the award for Outstanding Adjunct Professor of the Year from the SBA. A long-time lecturer at USC Gould, Heilman teaches both JD and LLM students. Hurd noted that students appreciated Heilman’s approach to making complex material understandable. “He even makes learning Community Property enjoyable,” he said.

Guzman continued the ceremony by announcing this year’s Shattuck Award recipients. The students are nominated by their peers, as well as USC Gould faculty and staff. The following six 3L students were recognized for demonstrating the greatest potential for becoming members of the bar and making significant contributions to the USC Gould community:

• Andres Cantero, president of the Latino Law Student Association and student ambassador;

• Philip Dear, co-president of the Business Law Society, who led alumni outreach efforts in New York;

• Alex Hurd, president, USC Law Student Bar Association and clinical director, USC Law Legal Clinics

• Jenecia Martinez, who helped to develop Gould’s new First Generation Professionals program and served as a mentor to her fellow students;

• Jordan Smith, senior editor of the Southern California Law Review and vice president for Legal Aid Alternative Breaks, organizing students to volunteer in New Orleans with social justice organizations;

• Amy Stern, board member of Public Interest Law Foundation, who in the Immigration Clinic, obtained full asylum or other forms of relief from removal for more clients than any other current clinic student.

Professor Camille Rich (second from left) honored three students from Gould’s new First Generation Professional Program: Jenecia Martinez, Thai Vet Phan and Andres Cantero (holding certificates). Malissa Barnwell-Scott, who manages the program, is pictured far left.

Will Brotherson was awarded the Miller-Johnson Equal Justice Prize for his commitment to civil and social justice. As a 1L, Brotherson logged more than 100 pro bono hours, which earned him an LA County Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award. He later served as president of the Legal Aid Alternative Breaks Project and joined the Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP).

Renee Lizarraga was awarded the Mason C. Brown Award for being “a model student in every sense of the word – she is driven, thoughtful, invested, and most importantly, kind.” The award, named for trial attorney and USC Gould alumnus Mason Brown ’70, was established to recognize a third-year law student who demonstrates a commitment to public interest endeavors and talent for trial work. Brown’s widow Laurie attended the ceremony. Renee was also recognized for her extraordinary work with the PCJP.

Two students from the law school’s LLM program – Xin Gui and Joseph Hudson– were recognized by the Graduate and International Student program volunteering for leadership roles and improving the quality of life for all of our students.  Assistant Director, Student Computing Services John Kelly was also honored by the SBA as outstanding staff member for making himself “available to help students in any way he can.”

Professor Camille Gear Rich, director of the First Generation Professionals program, also honored three students for their contributions to the development of the flagship program: Andres Cantero, Jenecia Martinez and Thai Viet Phan.