• Law Firm Challenge wraps up another successful year and alumni Team Leads share their experiences

    Aug 6, 2019 9:45 amAlumniFeatured

    The College of Law recently wrapped up another successful year of giving by alumni participating in the Law Firm Challenge. Philanthropic gifts made by law school alumni help to fund student scholarships, capital renovation projects, experiential learning opportunities, programs and competitions, faculty research, and more at the College of Law that enhance the overall experience for our students. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, over $450k was raised in the 2019 fiscal year Law Firm Challenge.

    Law firms with four or more alumni qualify for the Law Firm Challenge, and alumni Team Leaders at these firms help share news about the College of Law as well as encourage their fellow alumni to make a gift in support of the school. The College is profoundly grateful to the Team Leaders for their advocacy and engagement on behalf of the school during this year’s Law Firm Challenge.

    Some Team Leaders have gone above and beyond in their efforts to increase participation and giving with the alumni at firms. We asked a couple of them why they prioritize giving to the College of Law and why they believe participation in the Law Firm Challenge is important.

    Wade Thomson (’03), Co-Team Leader, Jenner & Block LLP said, “I truly believe almost all alumni are happy to give back to the College of Law but just get too busy, and the Law Firm Challenge is a great vehicle to catch their attention.”

    David Mangian (’09), Co-Team Leader, Thompson Coburn LLP added, “I benefited from scholarship funds when I attended the College of Law and want to help ensure that same opportunity remains available to today’s students. The Law Firm Challenge provides a unique opportunity to engage Illinois alumni within Thompson Coburn and increase our profile for recruitment all while supporting the College of Law and it students.”

    The College of Law would also like to highlight the firms that had a participation rate of 50% or higher during this year’s Law Firm Challenge and thank them for their generosity to the College and its students.

    20+ College of Law Alumni

    • Chapman and Cutler LLP
    • Jenner & Block LLP
    • Jones Day
    • Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
    • Sidley Austin LLP

    10-19 College of Law Alumni

    • Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C.
    • Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
    • Nixon Peabody LLP
    • Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP
    • Thompson Coburn LLP

    4-9 College of Law Alumni

    • Akerman LLP
    • Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
    • Franczek Radelet, P.C.
    • Goldberg Segalla
    • HolmstromKennedy P.C.
    • K&L Gates LLP
    • Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
    • Pedersen & Houpt
    • Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered
    • Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
    • Webber & Thies, P.C.

    A list of all participating firms in the Law Firm Challenge can be found on our website. For more information about the Challenge or how to become a Team Leader for the next Law Firm Challenge, please contact Tara Adams, Assistant Director of Advancement, at tadams6@illinois.edu.