PILF Honors Students, Alumni Dedicated to Public Service

Story by Bronte Lawson Silverstein

Photos by Lori Craig

At the USC Gould School of Law’s 2012 Pro Bono Awards Luncheon, students and alumni were honored for their commitment to public interest law.

“This is always a special occasion, it really gives us a chance to come together as a community and reflect upon the accomplishments of the last year,” said Dean Robert K. Rasmussen. “We honor students and alumni who have dedicated themselves to public interest, and recommit ourselves to the principles of public interest.”

Dean Rasmussen addresses audience members.

Ryan Wolfe ’12 was honored with the 2012 PILF Student of the Year Award. Wolfe was the only second year law student in 2011 to volunteer more than 100 hours of public service and he was PILF’s Vice President of Administration. He worked nearly a full calendar year at the Public Defender’s Office.

Wolfe was also awarded the Lash Grant, a bar stipend that helps to cover the cost of the bar examination. It was created in honor of a former USC Law Dean and founding member of PILF, Karen A. Lash.

Pamela Marx ’78, the PILF Public Interest Attorney of the Year, was honored for her work at Mental Healthy Advocacy Services (MHAS). Marx worked for the organization while she was a student at USC Law, and after working several years in private practice, she returned to the organization as a supervising attorney.

MHAS hires numerous law student interns to assist with issues pertaining to the protection of the legal rights of people with mental disabilities.

“Our ability to incorporate students has been very important to us,” said Marx. “We think that it’s not only important for maximizing the amount and the quality of service for clients, but we also hope that the students who go on to work in the private sector or in government work learn something about the connection between the law and vulnerable populations.”

Pamela Marx '78 accepts her award.

The Paul Davis Memorial Pro Bono Attorney of the Year was awarded to Michael Turrill ’96, for his continued dedication to public interest law while working in private practice at Arent Fox LLP. Turrill has been an integral member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights’ Foster Care Adoption Program and is a devoted member of his firm’s pro bono division.

“It’s a powerful tool to have a law degree,” Turrill said, speaking directly to the law students in attendance. “I encourage you not only to do well, but to do good.”

This year, a record number of seven students donated more than 100 hours of public service. Kevin Crow ’13, Natasha De Lange ’13, Megan Hopkins ’13, Alain Jauffret ’13, Evan Langinger ’14, Garrett Lindsey ’13 and Christina Samons ’13 were honored with the 2012 Office of Public Service Awards.

Megan Hopkins ’13 topped the list with an unprecedented 200 hours. She was also honored with the Paul Davis Award, and the Scott H. and Barbara Bice Grant for her position this coming summer at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office.

Dean Rasmussen congratulated the award recipients and encouraged members of the audience to use their accomplishments as a source of inspiration for future public interest work.

“Law can be a force for good in our society, and societies are judged by the way they treat the least fortunate and how they help their most vulnerable citizens,” Rasmussen said. “I think we all recognize that the law is essential in our obligation to ensure that we are part of a just society.”

Full list of awards recipients:

Michael Turrill ’96, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.

Sydney & Audrey Irmas Fellowship – KeAndra Dodds ‘12

Trope & Trope/USC Family Law Public Interest Felloswhip – Ashley Cadlwell ’14, Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law

Karen A. Lash Grant – Ryan Wolfe ’12

Paul Davis Award – Megan Hopkins ’13, Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office

Adam Freeman Scott Memorial Grants – Amy Shayne ’13, ACLU of Southern California, and Stephanie Krol ’14, Public Counsel

Dr. Carl M. Franklin & Mrs. Carolyn C. Franklin Summer Stipend for a First Year Student – Joshua Moore ’14, Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles

Black Law Students Association (BLSA) Joint Grant – Gabrielle Bass ’13, New York County Defender’s Office

Legal Aid Alternative Breaks (LAAB) Joint Grant – Leslie Wolf ’13, Bet Tzedek

Student Bar Association (SBA) Joint Grant – Amadi Jordan-Walker ’13, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Street Law Joint Grant – Garrett Lindsey ’13, California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Antitrust Law Section

Scott H. and Barbara Bice Grant – Megan Hopkins ’13, Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office

Sidley Austin, LLP Summer Fellowship Grants – Meghan Grim ’13, Lambda Legal, and Evan Langinger ’14, Los Angeles Office of County Counsel, Probate Division

Dean Rasmussen with award winners Marx, Turrill and Wolfe.

PILF Grant Recipients:

1L Grant Recipients:

Rebecca Bradlow

Jessica Culpepper

Joel Frost-Tift

Erinn Gansel

Kyra Gates

Adelle Greenfield

Shani Kupferman

Evan Langinger

Claudia Lopez

Kelley Lowe

Marlena McMurchie

Joshua Moore

Katrina Rayco

Aurora Thome

Irma Vargas

David Vences

Leslie Wolf

Farrah Zarea

2L Grant Recipients:

Gabrielle Bass

Andy Clegg

Natasha de Lange

Katrina Dela Cruz

Meghan Grim

Megan Hopkins

Jasmyn Jones

Amadi Jordan-Walker

Garrett Lindsey

Christina Samons

Estevan Sanchez

Michael Santos

Michelle Shaffie