Law Commons^™

Saint Ivo Kermartin Mediation Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

First awarded in 2024, the St. Ivo Kermartin Mediation Award recognizes an outstanding student mediator who is selected by the Mediation Clinic faculty.

About St. Ivo Kermartin: Ivo Helory, a legal scholar from Kermartin, France, served as an ecclesiastical judge in the diocese of Rennes and Treguier, becoming known as an of the poor. From Catholic Online.

Murphy Fellowship, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Murphy Fellowship, named in honor of longtime former Notre Dame law professor Edward J. Murphy, is awarded annually to first-year law students selected through a written application process. Fellows participate in the programming of both the Program on Church, State & Society and the Religious Liberty Initiative. In addition, they will have the opportunity, during their second and third years, to participate in the Law School’s Religious Liberty Clinic.

Edward J. Kelly Prize In Elder Law, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Elder Law Prize is intended to advance the study of elder law and to encourage and assist Notre Dame Law students who may have an interest in this field. This award is given annually to the NDLS student who has written the best essay, article, or legal brief on a topic relating to elder law. Due to a gift from the Retirement Research Foundation on behalf of Mr. Ed Kelly, the winner of the award will receive a monetary prize.

Blsa Staff Appreciation Award, Black Law Sctudents Association

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The award is given to a Law School or community member for consistently contributing time and assistance to further BLSA’s goals and objectives.

Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition

The annual writing competition is open to all U.S. and Canadian law school students. Entries should be concerned with any issue within the general category of legal ethics. Entries must be original, unpublished work, a minimum of 5,000 words and a maximum of 15,000 words, inclusive of footnotes. Coauthored essays may be submitted. Submissions will be judged by a panel of faculty of the Notre Dame Law School. A monetary prize will be awarded to one winning entrant.

A. Harold Weber Moot Court Competition Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

For outstanding achievement in art of Oral Advocacy 1981–

Alvin Mckenna Alumnus Of The Year Award, Black Law Students Association, Ndls

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Presented by BLSA to a graduate who distinguishes him/herself with the African American legal community and through support of BLSA programs & activities. The honoree also demonstrates a commitment to service through active involvement within the community.

Arthur A. May Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Arthur May received his LL.B. from the Notre Dame Law School in 1947. For over 45 years, Mr. May served as a role model for young attorneys in the development of their trial advocacy skills.

Chosen by the Moot Court Trial Team faculty, this award is presented annually to a member of the Notre Dame Barristers Team (Moot Court Trial Team) who demonstrates a commitment to professional ethical standards and who exhibits excellence in trial advocacy.

Anne C. Hamilton Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The annual award is given at graduation in memory of the Law School’s beloved registrar to the law student who has done the most to help his or her fellow students during his or her time at NDLS. Anne served the law school for 33 years.

Arthur Abel Memorial Competition Writing Award, Notre Dame Law Review

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Each spring, the Notre Dame Law Review accepts entries for the annual Arthur Abel Memorial Writing Competition. Arthur Abel was a 1985 graduate of the Law School, serving on both the Notre Dame Law Review and the Journal of Legislation. After working for several years in private practice, Arthur served as Assistant General Counsel for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A tireless attorney possessed of a keen intellect and a wonderful sense of humor, Arthur achieved much success in a short period of time. Tragically, Arthur's life was cut short at the age of thirty-six.

Through a generous gift …

Awards For Outstanding Achievement, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Awarded to students who performed exceptionally well in a particular academic discipline or program of study.

Thomas L. Shaffer Public Interest Fellowship, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Shaffer Fellowship, named in honor of former dean and professor Thomas L. Shaffer and funded by donor support, is awarded yearly to two members of Notre Dame Law School’s graduating class. The fellows’ salaries and benefits are covered while they work for two years at a nonprofit organization providing legal services to low-income or other underrepresented populations. The award was previously called the Notre Dame Law Fellowship.

Champions Of Justice Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The students receiving the Champion for Justice award have exemplified Fr. Hesburgh’s call to be a lawyer champion with their extraordinary commitment to public service. Through their participation in summer internships and/or law school clinics and externships, they have demonstrated a lasting commitment to serving others and satisfied a high threshold of involvement in public interest work that exceeds that of their peers.

Bank Of America Foundation Fellowship, Bank Of America Foundation, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Bank of American Foundation Fellowship, launched in 2015, covers the cost of salary and benefits for two graduating class members to work for two years at a city agency or nonprofit organization of their choice. The fellows’ work must advance community sustainability and provide legal services to low-income or underrepresented populations.

Notre Dame Law School Distinguished Staff Award, Student Bar Association

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Recognizes a member of the Law School staff that has exhibited excellence in leadership, dedication, and professionalism.

A. Harold Weber Writing Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

For Excellence in Legal Writing
What will it profit you to know all the law and the prophets if you lack the power to make these clear to others? – Lloyd T. Stryker

Edward F. Barrett Award For Trial Advocacy, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The advocate champions the cause entrusted to him honorably and with the courage born of competence, to the end that justice shall prevail.

This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the art of trial advocacy. Chosen by the Trial Advocacy faculty and established in honor of Professor Edward F. Barrett.

William T. Kirby Award, The, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The William T. Kirby Award

For Excellence in Legal Writing.

Each year, a first-year (1L) student is chosen for excellence in writing a legal memorandum and third-year (3L) student(s) are chosen for excellence in brief writing.

All award winners will be recognized in their third year on Awards Day and in the Commencement Program.

Joseph Ciraolo Memorial Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Memorial scholarship in honor of Joseph Ciraolo, class of 1997. For a law student who exemplifies spirit, service, and significant achievement in the face of adversity.

Conrad Kellenberg Award, Student Bar Association

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

In honor of Professor Conrad Kellenberg’s fifty years of service to the Notre Dame Law School and the local community, this award is annually given to a graduating student chosen by the 3L class. The recipient has dedicated a substantial amount of time to the betterment of the community through service. In keeping with the legacy Professor Kellenberg created, such service includes participation in the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic, volunteering at local community organizations, and to mentoring the youth of the South Bend area.

David T. Link Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

For outstanding service in the field of social justice

Notre Dame Law School Distinguished Teaching Award, Student Bar Associaiton

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Notre Dame Law School Distinguished Teaching Award

Recognizing that Law School faculty members exhibit excellence in leadership, friendship, legal knowledge, legal teaching, and professional ability.

Daniel J. Adam Memorial Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Created in 2004 by the Class of 2001 to honor the boxing talent and unrelenting spirit of charity and compassion of Daniel Adams. The award is presented annually to the outstanding law school boxer in each year's Bengal Bouts Tournament at Notre Dame.

Rebecca B. Ward (Staff/Alumni) Appreciation Award 2016–2023, Black Law Students Association

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The award is given to a member of the Law School or local community for consistently contributing time and assistance to further BLSA’s goals and objectives.

Kyle D. Smith Mock Trial Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Chosen by the Moot Court Trial Team faculty for excellence in mock trial.

International Academy Of Trial Lawyers, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Chosen by the Trial Advocacy faculty, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award commends the following students for their distinguished achievement in the art and science of advocacy.

Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Chosen by the Clinical faculty for outstanding contributions to the Law School’s clinics through excellence in clinical work.

Colonel William J. Hoynes Award, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Hoynes Prize, is a gift of Dean William James Hoynes, 1878, LL.D. 1888, first dean of the Notre Dame Law School.

To the graduating law class member who has the best record in scholarship, application, deportment, and achievement.

Judge Joseph E. Mahoney Award, The, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

For outstanding leadership

Whitton Prize For Excellence In Labor Law, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

Established by Michael Whitton and awarded to the graduating third-year student who has demonstrated a commitment to the practice of labor and employment law through his or her course studies and work experiences