South Texas College of Law Houston Vice President and Associate Dean for Experiential Education Catherine Greene Burnett will receive the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the Association of American Law Schools Section on Pro Bono and Access to Justice, on January 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C. during the association’s 2024 Annual Meeting.
Burnett created STCL’s first client service clinic in August 1990, offering free legal services to the greater Houston community. Her vision was to partner students who wanted to practice legal skills with individuals in the community who needed representation but could not afford attorneys. These legal clinics have served more than 13,000 families in the past 33 years, according to a press release.
“We are so proud of Dean Burnett’s well-deserved recognition,” South Texas College of Law Houston President and Dean Michael F. Barry said in a press release. “Service is one of the hallmarks of the South Texas mission—and Dean Burnett has exemplified that aspect of our mission with dedication, imagination, and vision for more than three decades.”
Burnett said it was an unexpected honor to receive this award, and she pointed out that the success of the clinics and its strong pro bono legacy are the result of the persistent efforts of many people.
“My achievement was only possible because of our law school’s consistent support for the blend of skills training with community service that drives our clinics,” Burnett said in a press release. “I share this honor with the cast of dedicated faculty and public interest attorneys and professional staff and committed students that make the promise of our clinics a reality.”
For more information on South Texas College of Law Houston, go to stcl.edu. For more information on the Association of American Law Schools, go to aals.org.