National Recognition for Extraordinary Service
Marquette University Law School is a recipient of the American Bar Association 2026 Pro Bono Publico Award, which annually recognizes individuals and groups for their commitment to volunteer legal services for low-income and disadvantaged persons.
The Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics (MVLCs) have developed into a lifeline for unrepresented litigants facing civil legal challenges. From modest beginnings in 2002, handling just 106 client visits, the MVLCs have grown exponentially, recording 6,160 client visits in 2025 alone. Each year, over 250 volunteer attorneys and an equal number of law student volunteers donate their time to clients through the clinics. The MVLCs now operate across multiple locations, including the Milwaukee County Courthouse, the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office, community-based social service agencies, a Mobile Legal Clinic van reaching underserved urban areas and virtual clinics on Zoom reaching across Wisconsin. The clinics provide legal guidance across a wide array of civil matters, including family law, child support, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, debt resolution, probate, guardianships, and immigration law. This expansive and adaptable service model helps those facing legal obstacles receive the assistance they need. In a state where only one legal aid attorney is available for every 4,300 individuals living at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, pro bono programs like the MVLCs both serve as a legal aid ecosystem and engage with legal aid providers, helping ensure that individuals seeking assistance do not fall through the cracks.
This is only the fourth time in more than 40 years that a law school has received this national award.
Read the full press release on the ABA’s website.