July 01, 2021

Alum Sybil Hebb Receives Public Interest Law Award

Alum Sybil Hebb, who advocates to remove barriers to justice, recently received the Larry K Amburgey Award for Commitment to Public Interest Law.

During the live auction held in February, the Public Interest Law Project (PILP) honored Sybil Hebb ’95 as the 2021 recipient of the Larry K. Amburgey Award for Commitment to Public Interest Law. Hebb’s work with the Oregon Law Center focuses on removing barriers to justice and changing systems so that they are designed to achieve equitable outcomes.

“I knew when I was nominating someone and presenting them to the board that I wanted it to be an individual who has dedicated their career to public interest law,” stated former PILP President Natalie Hollabaugh ’20. “Sybil has been a legal aid attorney and legislative advocate for decades and we are so honored to give her this award.”

Sybil has been the Director of Legislative Advocacy for the Oregon Law Center since 2005. The Oregon Law Center is a nonprofit law firm whose mission is to ensure access to justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services. As the legislative director, she manages statewide housing, domestic violence, and other poverty-law policy advocacy. Prior to her work at the Oregon Law Center, she worked as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Services of Oregon in Central Oregon.

“It was a surprise and such an honor to be nominated and chosen by public interest law students. This is really meaningful to me. It’s a privilege to get to work with my legal aid colleagues across the state to ensure justice for our low-income client communities.” says Sybil. “As lawyers, we have tools that can help change lives, and that’s so powerful. I appreciate PILP for the work they do to advance public interest law.”

The Amburgey Award was established in 2011in honor of Larry K. Amburgey ’75 to recognize Lewis & Clark Law School graduates who demonstrate a long-term and loyal commitment to the public interest law program at the school. The award is given annually to a graduate chosen by the PILP board.