Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic Receives Two Awards Recognizing Community Engagement

BY ISN STAFF | March 4, 2016

MILWAUKEE, WI — In recognition of Marquette University Law School’s ongoing service to the Milwaukee community, the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic was recently recognized with a pair of awards: one presented by Milwaukee Catholic Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki and the other by the United Community Center.

Archbishop Listecki presented a “Treasures of the Church” award to the Law School’s Mobile Legal Clinic during his Lenten Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The Archbishop’s awards were established to recognize individuals, organizations and religious orders that exemplify the true treasures of the church in their steadfast commitment and response to the poor in our midst.

The United Community Center recognized the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic’s volunteers, staff, and board as its “UCC Group Volunteer of the Year” for 2016 on Thursday, Feb. 25. The annual award celebrates the gifts of volunteers to the UCC, which provides programs to Hispanics and near south side residents of all ages in the areas of education, cultural arts, recreation, community development and health and human services. The UCC is one of several locations served by the MVLC.

“On behalf of Marquette University Law School, we are grateful to Archbishop Listecki and the United Community Center for recognizing the contributions of the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic,” said Joseph D. Kearney, Dean of Marquette University Law School. “Marquette lawyers are called to serve, both as an acknowledgement of our obligation as attorneys and as an expression of the university’s Catholic and Jesuit mission. Work in the MVLC instills in our students a recognition of their unique societal role and privilege as members of the legal profession.”

The Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic consists of brief legal advice and referral services staffed by volunteer Marquette Law School students working with, and supervised by, licensed attorneys. The MVLC serves individuals who would otherwise have limited or no access to the civil legal system. The volunteer experience provides students with the opportunity to serve the community, enhance their classroom learning and be mentored by practicing attorneys.

The MVLC operates in four fixed locations: the House of Peace Community Center at 17th and Walnut, the United Community Center on the near south side, the Veterans’ Service Office in West Allis and the Milwaukee Justice Center in the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Through the Milwaukee Justice Center, a collaborative project among the Law School, the Milwaukee Bar Association and Milwaukee County, the MVLC also operates through the Mobile Legal Clinic, a specially outfitted bus designed to extend the MVLC’s legal services to individuals less able to reach the four locations.

Marquette University is an 2015-2016 Ignatian Solidarity Network institutional member.