The Excellence in Public Interest Awards recognizes and appreciates members of the community for their dedication, commitment, and outstanding contributions to the field of public interest law.

Brian McGiverin

Public Interest Attorney Award Winner

Mr. McGiverin is a Prisoners’ Rights Attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project. He has dedicated his career to fighting injustice through public interest law. He is highly active in the Austin community, serving on the board of the Poverty Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Austin Tenants’ Council, among other organizations.

 

Pete Schenkkan

Private Attorney Award Winner

Mr. Schenkkan is a litigator who serves as lead counsel in federal litigation. His pro bono experience is extensive and includes a successful challenge to a Texas rule limiting Medicaid eligibility in Camacho v. Texas Workforce Commission.

 

Heather K. Way

Faculty Award Winner

Professor Way is a clinical professor and the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic at UT School of Law. She works tirelessly to advocate for affordable housing, focusing her work on analyzing and developing laws and public policies that promote the creation of equitable and sustainable communities.

 

Kali Cohn

Student Award Winner

Kali is a 3L at UT School of Law. While at UT, Kali has dedicated her time to civil rights and civil liberties work. She has participated in the Civil Rights and National Security Clinics for four semesters and has interned with the ACLU of Texas in Houston and Austin, as well as the ACLU of Northern California. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights.

 

Tina Fernandez

In recognition of her commitment to public interest law at UT, Texas Law Fellowships has named a permanent fellowship in honor of Tina Fernandez. Ms. Fernandez played an integral role in developing UT Law’s pro-bono program. TLF will award the Tina Fernandez Fellowship to the fellow with the most pro-bono hours.