Photo Gallery: 2005 Pro Bono Awards Luncheon

More than 50 students were recognized April 12 at the 2005 Pro Bono Awards Luncheon, including 3L Melvin Yee who received the Outstanding Student Award.

Public Interest Law Foundation President Greg Pleasants, who presented the award, called Yee (pictured left with Pleasants) an “unsung hero” of USC Law’s public interest community. “Melvin doesn’t advertise his work,” Pleasants said. “He just does it.”

Two alumni also were honored at the luncheon. Mona Patel-Sikora ’90, staff attorney for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, was named this year’s Outstanding Graduate. David Walsh ’85, an attorney with Paul Hastings, was given the Paul Davis Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding grad in a more traditional firm job who shows leadership in pro bono work.

During the 2004-2005 academic year, USC Law students volunteered for a total of 2,277.8 hours through PILF. The foundation also awarded grants to 18 first- and second-year law students who will be employed in public interest work this summer.