Professor Seidman Wins National Teaching Award

A professor famed for her tireless generosity is finally getting her due. Ilene Seidman, professor of clinical law, was recently awarded the Equal Justice Works 2007 Outstanding Law School Faculty Award, given each year to one law faculty member in the nation for his or her outstanding work on behalf of students seeking careers in public interest law.

Lindy Aldrich, JD ’06 and Kate Lawson, JD ’06, both former public interest students at Suffolk Law who now work together at the Victim Rights Law Center, were the first to nominate Seidman. “It was the easiest decision,” says Aldrich. “Ilene played an enormous role in the support, guidance, and inspiration we had while students, and this support continues in our current practice as public interest attorneys.”

“From the first day I met Ilene—only a few weeks into law school—to this day, she has been an invaluable source of guidance for me in my efforts to develop a legal career rooted in public interest,” adds Lawson. “I would not have made it through law school without her commitment to my success and incredible mentorship.”

Aldrich and Lawson wrote several essays on Seidman’s behalf detailing her exceptional teaching and guidance at Suffolk Law. They also reached out to former Dean Robert Smith; Professor Jeffrey Pokorak, director of clinical programs; and many of Seidman’s past students for letters of recommendation. All told, seven letters were sent to Equal Justice Works on Seidman’s behalf, with at least 12 former students signing on to the letters.

“Her mark in this area is extraordinary in terms of both advancing institutional support for public interest careers and providing individual counseling, guidance, and support to students moving from law school to their life as lawyers,” says Pokorak. “This national recognition is not only helpful to Suffolk and our growing public interest and public policy programming—it is also a most well-deserved honor for Ilene.”

Seidman is typically benevolent in her reaction to the honor.  “Of course, I was very touched and honored to be nominated and really delighted to be given the award,” she says. “I was particularly gratified because the students worked so hard on the process, which seemed quite intense, and I was happy that their hard work paid off.”