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Society of Women In Law - Chicago-Kent College of Law Past Award Recipients: Sita Balthazar-Thomas, 1999 Heather Fritsch, 2000
The award recognizes a current Chicago-Kent student who has demonstrated initiative and dedication to women's issues. The annual award is presented at the end of each academic year and consists of an honorary plaque and $50.00. WIL's choice to name the award after Esther Rothstein was an easy one to make. She was a trailblazer in the legal community and a role model to all who crossed her path. Ms. Rothstein was born in Milwaukee and attended Marquette University. She then attended Chicago-Kent College of Law in the evening division while she worked as a legal secretary at McCarthy and Levin. She graduated from Chicago-Kent in 1949 as one of only two women in her class. In 1955, she became a partner at McCarthy and Levin, where she practiced for over half a century until her death on December 2, 1998. Ms. Rothstein, known for her integrity and compassion, devoted her life to the law and was recognized as a pioneer of women's issues. Ms. Rothstein achieved many "firsts" throughout her lifetime: first woman President of the Chicago Bar Association, 1977-78; first woman to chair an American Bar Association standing committee; first woman trustee of Illinois Institute of Technology and life trustee; first lawyer elected to Women's Hall of Fame by the Chicago Commission on Women; and first woman director of Illinois Bell Telephone Co., just to name a few. She also served as President of the Chicago Bar Foundation, 1985-87; President of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, 1961-62; President of the Illinois Humane Society; and Director of the Illinois Pro Bono Center. She received many awards throughout her lifetime, including the American Bar Association's Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award in 1993. Perhaps one of Ms. Rothstein's proudest achievements was the founding of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois Foundation in 1965, for which she served as President since 1980. The WBAIF enabled her to achieve her goal of promoting and supporting women in the field of law. A group of women lawyers led by Ms. Rothstein had the dream of giving financial aid to women law students to send the message that they had the support of women lawyers and, thus, would not feel isolated in classes where there were few other women. Since it's founding 33 years ago, the WBAIF has awarded 171 scholarships to women from Illinois law schools totaling over $500,000. In her last public appearance in November of 1998, Ms. Rothstein was honored with the Founder's Award from the CBA Alliance for Women. In her acceptance speech, she said "I feel a sense of guilt being honored for doing what I've loved doing and meeting all of you along the way." Words from many of those she touched throughout her lifetime have been gathered in "Leading with Grace: A Tribute to Esther Rothstein" in the February/March 1999 issue of the CBA Record. Tributes from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner, Phillip Corboy, Dawn Clark Netsch, Judge Kathryn Zenoff (Ms. Rothstein's niece), Lewis Collens, Dean Henry Perritt, Jr., and many others show what a profound impact Ms. Rothstein had on those she "met along the way." Interested students may apply for the award during the spring semester by submitting a short application, current resume and personal statement to the WIL mailbox on the 2nd floor. Students may exemplify their initiative and dedication to women's issues through past or current community involvement, employment experience, academic pursuit, political action, or other such activities and personal experiences. Applicants may be of either gender and need not be a member of WIL. The winner of the award is chosen by the WIL Esther Rothstein Award Selection Committee. Committee members include disinterested WIL Executive Board members and Professors Baker and Steinman. The award winner is announced at WIL's annual Spring Reception. Should you have any questions about this award, please e-mail wil@kentlaw.edu
ESTHER ROTHSTEIN AWARD APPLICATION
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