April 8, 2008

Cooley Professor Wins Capital Area United Way Volunteer of the Year Award

Professor Chris Trudeau

LANSING, MICH. – The Thomas M. Cooley Law School announced today that Professor Christopher R. Trudeau is the recipient of the Capital Area United Way's Volunteer of the Year award.

"We often tell our students that their education carries with it a great responsibility," said Don LeDuc, president and dean of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. "Professor Trudeau's actions are a shining example of the impact that one can have on a community outside of his or her job."

Since 2006, Trudeau has offered pro bono legal services to clients of Lansing's Cristo Rey Community Center, 1717 North High Street. Currently, he and a group of Cooley law students provide pro bono and bilingual legal services approximately three times a month. To date, Trudeau has provided more than 300 hours of pro bono legal services. He has served more then 150 individuals in matters of divorce, child custody, child support, change of domicile, wills, durable power of attorney for health care and employment and landlord/tenant issues.

Before joining Cooley in 2005, Trudeau practiced labor and employment law with a large Detroit-area law firm. In January 2007 he completed a report on Michigan burial law for the Michigan Legislative Service Commission.

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Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the country and includes the largest African-American and second-largest minority student enrollment. Founded in 1972, it operates J.D. programs in Michigan's capital city in Lansing, in suburban Oakland County, and in downtown Grand Rapids. Today, Cooley Law School has more than 12,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and Master of Law programs. Cooley enters classes three times a year, in January, May, and September. Additional information about Cooley can be found at www.cooley.edu.