2003 Wien Prize
THEODORE M. SHAW '79 AND COVINGTON & BURLING HONORED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
-Wien Prize Recognizes Social Responsibility in Legal Profession-
On August 27, 2003, Columbia Law School honored Theodore M. Shaw '79, Associate Director-Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc, and the law firm of Covington & Burling, with the 2003 Lawrence A. Wien Prize for Social Responsibility. The annual ceremony offers recognition to those individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to pro bono activities and community service.
"Both Ted Shaw and Covington & Burling set an example that both lawyers and law students can and should aspire to," said Dean Leebron. "Columbia Law School is honored and proud to recognize their dedication to public service with the Wien Prize."
Since graduating from Columbia Law School in 1979, Mr. Shaw's career has spanned from working in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C., to academia to his current position at the NAACP. During his career he has litigated cases on the death penalty, school desegregation, capital punishment, and other civil rights matters. Most recently, he was lead counsel representing African-American and Latino student interveners in the University of Michigan undergraduate affirmative action case.
Covington & Burling have also long been committed to performing public service, and their dedication to pro bono is not only evident in the respect gained by their peers, but also in a glance at their current public service roster, which includes cases ranging from death penalty matters, to custody and adoption issues, to numerous civil rights representations, to consultation to over 100 non-profit organizations.
The Lawrence A. Wien Prize for Social Responsibility honors members of the legal profession who, like the late Lawrence Wien '27, put their resources and legal skills to work for the public good. The prize, established in 1982 at both the Law and Business Schools, was initially awarded to corporations that exhibited a strong social conscience. Since 1996, in consultation with Mr. Wien's descendants, the award has been conferred solely by the Law School. It is now presented in conjunction with the School's award-winning Profession of Law course, which teaches legal ethics to all third-year law students.
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Past Recipients of the Lawrence A. Wien Prize
For Social Responsibility
2002 Edith I. Spivack, Esq. '32, Kristin Booth Glen '66 and Anika Rahman, Esq. '90
2001 Tim Coulter, Esq '69 and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
2000 Michael Hertz, Esq. '88 and The Fellowship Program of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
1999 Nicole A. Gordon '77 and The Political Asylum Workshop of Davis Polk & Wardwell
1998 Harriet S. Rabb, Esq. '66 and Jerome J. Shestack, Esq.
1997 Marvin E. Frankel, Esq. '48 and Kay Crawford Murray, Esq. '76
1996 Evan A. Davis, Esq. '69 and Hon. Pauline A. Mullings '76
Past Recipients of the Former Lawrence A. Wien Prize
in Corporate Social Responsibility
1995 Hallmark Cards, Inc.
1994 S C Johnson Wax
1993 Merck & Co., Inc. *
1992 The Stride Rite Corporation
1991 Chemical Banking Corporation
1989 Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.
1987 H.B. Fuller Company
1986 Sara Lee Corporation
1985 The Rouse Company 1984 Levi-Strauss & Company
1983 Norton Company
1982 Dayton Hudson Corporation
* In addition, Newman's Own received the Lawrence A. Wien Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Commitment.
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