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Northwestern Law's Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC) will honor two Chicago law firms, two local attorneys, and a community agency for their contributions to juvenile justice and education as part of the center's Children's Law Pro Bono Project.

The ceremony will take place Tuesday, April 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the School of Law, 375 East Chicago Ave. Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, will present the awards.

Two firms, Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP, are being honored for the extensive voluntary legal work their attorneys have performed in support of juvenile justice and education. Lawyers, who work for these two firms, were recruited, trained, and supported by the CFJC to represent children charged with misdemeanors or felonies and to help children being expelled from school. Several of the volunteer attorneys are graduates of Northwestern Law.

In addition to the two firms being honored, Michael R. Mulcahy from Vedder Price Kaufman & Kammholz PC is being honored for his extensive pro bono work, including the two juvenile delinquency cases and ten school expulsion cases that he has handled in the past year through the project.

Angela C. Vigil (JD '95) is being recognized for her work as the Director of Pro Bono and Public Service for North America at the law firm of Baker & McKenzie LLP and her long-standing commitment to children in need of representation.

The Circuit Court of Cook County Juvenile Probation Department, currently being directed by Michael J. Rohan, is being recognized for its invaluable contributions to the community, juvenile justice, and education, particularly for ensuring that all court-involved children stay in school and finish school and for making sure that former juvenile offenders get their records expunged so that they can have a fresh start.

Since the Children's Law Pro Bono Project was founded in 1996, more than 400 attorneys from more than 50 prominent Chicago firms have participated in the program. Many of these lawyers become creative advocates for children in crisis, and their efforts have been instrumental in promoting zealous legal practice in the Juvenile Court of Cook County.

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