The Law School’s 2026 Pro Bono Recognition Ceremony celebrated 83 students from the Class of 2026 who demonstrated an outstanding commitment to public service and pro bono during their time at the Law School. 

These members of the graduating class logged 14,660 pro bono service hours, doing volunteer legal work that included helping to bridge the access to justice gap for persons of limited means and work that involved serving the public good.

Of those 83 students, 74 were recognized for completing the Pro Bono Pledge they made when they were 1Ls to complete at least 50 pro bono hours before graduation—with 31 earning the special recognition of Pro Bono Honors for completing more than 250 hours of service.

The 2026 Pro Bono Award of Excellence—presented to the graduating student with the most pro bono honors—was awarded to Kassidy Mahoney, ’26, who completed nearly 900 pro bono hours.

Kassidy’s pro bono work primarily centered on civil rights and criminal justice. She worked with organizations including the National Lawyers Guild, Life After Justice, the Juvenile Law Center, as well as the Cook County Public Defender. She also worked on reproductive justice issues with If/How/When and spent time working in the Law School’s Civil Rights and Policy Accountability Clinic.

The 2L Public Service Award was presented to Abigail Diebold, ’27, a member of the Law School’s Public Interest Leadership Program, who is working toward a career in defense work.

The James C. Hormel 3L Public Service Award was presented to Jessica Zellmer, ’26, who worked at both Legal Aid Chicago and Legal Action Chicago during her 1L and 2L summers, assisting underserved communities through both direct representation and impact litigation. Zellmer will be clerking for the Seventh Circuit directly after graduation and plans to pursue a career in public service post-clerkship.

The May 6 event included brief remarks from the three student winners and a keynote from Suzanne Cortheoux, ’04, a health and disability rights advocate who currently services as director of the Long-Term Care Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago. Emily Buss, the Mark and Barbara Fried Professor of Law and faculty director of the Public Interest Leadership Program, also shared remarks with the student attendees, congratulating them on their incredible pro bono contributions.  

2026 PRO BONO SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE:

• 83 students in the Class of 2026 completed 14,660 pro bono service hours
• 74 students completed the Pro Bono Pledge to log at least 50 hours before graduation
• 31 students exceeded the Pledge, earning Pro Bono Honors for completing more than 250 pro bono hours
• Kassidy Mahoney, ’26, was named Pro Bono Award of Excellence Winner for logging the most hours (nearly 900)
• Abigail Diebold, ’27, was named the 2L Public Service Award Winner
• Jessica Zellmer, ’26, was named the James C. Hormel 3L Public Service Award Winner