Second Annual Rev. David T. Link Public Interest Banquet

ND Law School is pleased to host the second annual Rev. David T. Link Public Interest Banquet.

Rev. David T. Link served as the Dean of Notre Dame Law School for 24 years and lived an exemplary life of service. In addition to coining the phrase "A Different Kind of Lawyer," he once said, “Your vocation is what you do to make a living. Your purpose in life is what you do to make living worthwhile.” At this banquet named in Father Link’s honor, we will recognize two members of the Law School community whose vocations and purpose have carried on his legacy.

First, we will honor Prof. Jimmy Gurulé with the South Bend Community Award. The South Bend Community Award recognizes a member of the local community who has advocated on behalf of the disadvantaged and marginalized and upheld the dignity of the vulnerable. Prof. Gurulé has served on the Law School faculty for more than 30 years and is the Founder and Director of the Law School's Exoneration Justice Clinic, where he leads a committed team of staff and students in investigating, litigating, and overturning wrongful convictions. Established in the fall of 2020, the EJC earned its first exoneration in July 2021 and continues to work tirelessly to correct miscarriages of justice in the local community and beyond.

Second, we will honor Alyssa Phillips ‘17 J.D. with the Rev. David T. Link Impact Award. The Rev. David T. Link Impact Award recognizes a member or friend of the Law School community whose work has embraced Father Link’s legacy of advocating for justice. During her time as a student at Notre Dame Law School, she received a prestigious two-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship, which supported her work at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless post-graduation. Her efforts were centered on providing legal assistance to homeless families in the Chicago suburbs and removing barriers for them to access education. After her fellowship, she joined the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless as an education attorney, continuing her vital work on school-related issues for homeless children and families

The banquet will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and an awards presentation led by the Public Interest Leadership Council, a student group composed of the leaders of our public interest and government focused student organizations.