Marovitz Public Interest Awards: 2008 Award Recipients
The Honorable
Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Public Interest Law Awards recognize
recently graduated Chicago-Kent alumni who have demonstrated outstanding
public interest leadership and who most reflect “the character,
life and work of the Honorable Abraham Lincoln Marovitz.”
These endowed
awards in memory of Judge Marovitz include monetary stipends to
assist the recipients with their educational debt as they work
to benefit the public good. The awards will be given out at the Public Interest Award and Networking Reception on April 22, 2008. This years honorees are:
Jane McBride '95
 Jane McBride currently serves as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Springfield office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Environmental Bureau. Her work is largely focused on environmental enforcement relative to agriculture facilities. She has won countless cases that have benefited public and animal health and safety.
Ms. McBride has concurrently developed a pro-bono career in animal crimes enforcement and advocacy, serving as an approved humane investigator for nine years. In this capacity, she has provided training for law enforcement regarding animal crimes and has drafted and promoted legislation for the humane treatment for animals.
In 2003, Ms. McBride founded Illinois Humane, a non-profit advocacy group that investigates animal neglect and cruelty, cares for animal victims of such cases, and advocates for anti-animal crime legislation. In 2005, Illinois Humane recovered nearly 70 animals from the Gulf Coast disaster area, housing all in foster homes rather than institutional facilities.
While attending Chicago-Kent as an evening student, Ms. McBride, class of 1995, worked as the Director of Public Affairs for the law school. She is married to John Mayer, residing in both Springfield and Chicago with their dog Mufasa, foster dog Tiger, and cats Mistletoe, Buddy, Blossom, and X1 (Extra One).
Julie G. Sollinger, Esq
'96
 Julie Sollinger is an assistant public guardian in the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian. Working in the Juvenile division, she acts as attorney and guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children in Cook County, and as a supervising attorney, she is responsible for six attorneys and their caseloads. She also serves as the Immigration Coordinator for the office, keeping track of all immigration issues facing OPG clients.
Ms. Sollinger is active in the community, serving on the Illinois Task Force on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children. In addition, she conducts pro bono trainings for attorneys handling Special J Visa cases for minor immigrants, in partnership with the National Immigration Justice Center.
A native of Great Neck, NY, Ms. Sollinger received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin. While at Chicago-Kent, she was very active in the Kent Justice Foundation and received several stipends for her public service. She is married to Gavin Sollinger, has two children, Sam (5) and Taryn (almost 2), and resides in Chicago.
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