Awards

Alumni awards recognize the valuable contributions to society that our graduates and legal professionals make. From community service to groundbreaking scholarship to government reform, Lewis & Clark Law School alumni and their colleagues consistently advance the legal profession. If you know an outstanding colleague, friend, or fellow alum, please nominate them to be considered for an award. 

Distinguished Graduate Award

The Distinguished Graduate Award honors an outstanding alumnus whose achievements in their profession and their community brings distinction to Lewis & Clark Law School. These alumni are people who value, serve, and represent the values of Lewis & Clark College. Recipients are selected by the Alumni Board of Directors based on nominations from faculty and alumni. This award is presented at the Distinguished Honors Awards dinner.

Honorary Graduate Award 

The Honorary Graduate Award is given to an individual who, though not a graduate of the law school, exemplifies support for and commitment to Lewis & Clark Law School and whose friendship, generosity and leadership profoundly help strengthen the law school.  This award is presented at the Distinguished Honors Awards dinner.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award is presented to an individual who has excelled professionally, exhibiting outstanding achievement, entrepreneurship or leadership within a chosen field. Preference is given to graduates from the last 10 years.  This award is presented at the Distinguished Honors Awards dinner.

Community Spirit Award

The Community Spirit Award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated notable community, public, or humanitarian service outside of their profession. Preference is given to graduates from the last 10 years.  This award is presented at the Distinguished Honors Awards dinner.

Joyce Ann Harpole Awards

In celebration of the life of Joyce Ann Harpole ’79, the Harpole Awards recognize one attorney and one law student who work quietly in pursuit of justice while maintaining a sense of balance between their legal pursuits and their personal life that distinguishes them within their community.   

Williamson Award

Each year, the Environmental Alumni Association (EAA) chooses one outstanding recent public interest environmental law graduate for the Williamson Award. EAA funds the award, which provides  $1,000 for the new graduate to assist his or her pursuit of a public interest career. The award is presented by the environmental faculty at the Distinguished Environmental Visitor lecture.

Distinguished Business Law Graduate Award

The Distinguished Business Law Graduate Award was instituted in 2004, and is awarded annually by the business law faculty and dean to a graduate of the law school who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, has made a positive mark on the legal or business profession, and whose accomplishments have brought honor and distinction to the law school.