Featured Faculty: Tom Shaffer
Honored for Lifetime of Service
The Volunteer Lawyer Network and Indiana Legal Services recently honored University of Notre Dame Emeritus Professor of Law Thomas Shaffer by presenting the first “Professor Thomas L. Shaffer Award of Exceptional Service Pro Bono Publico.” The award will now be issued annually during the organizations’ Pro Bono Attorney Recognition Luncheon.
“Because of Professor Shaffer’s contributions to the study of poverty law and social justice, we concluded that the ideal recipient of the award bearing his name would be an attorney who has contributed a significant number of hours to a pro bono case or cases in the last year; someone who is a source of inspiration and encouragement to the private bar in recognizing that our gifts are meant to be shared through legal services to the poor and disadvantaged in our community,” says Mary Anderson, director of the Volunteer Lawyer Network.
The award went to Mr. John Peddycord, a partner at May, Oberfell & Lorber. Peddycord is a 1971 graduate of Notre Dame Law School.
Shaffer is widely recognized as the nation’s most prolific legal author, having written nearly 300 scholarly works in his areas of expertise: law and religion, legal ethics, estate planning, clinical teaching and legal counseling. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School, he joined the Law School faculty in 1963. For most of his recent tenure, Shaffer has been a supervising attorney in the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic, teaching legal ethics and guiding the legal practice of the law students who serve the needy of the South Bend area. The Legal Aid Clinic provides free legal services to low-income individuals.
“My greatest blessing in life as a lawyer is to have worked with and among my teachers,” says Shaffer. And, like the ancient Jewish sage, I say that with the realization that I have learned most from my pupils.”
For more information on Professor Shaffer, go to his faculty web page.
