The Mary Philbrook Public Interest Award is given annually, at a gala event held each fall and organized by the Women's Law Caucus and APIL, in recognition of Mary Philbrook, the first woman admitted to the New Jersey Bar. Developed by Professor Ann Freedman, the award and gala were intially sponsored solely by the Women's Law Caucus, though APIL has since become an enthusiastic co-sponser. This year the Mary Philbrook awards will be held on September 28, 2010, in the Rutgers Campus Center.

Ms. Philbrook was a prominent leader in the campaign for women's suffrage and the Equal Rights Amendment, and was instrumental in the formation of New Jersey's first statewide legal aid society. She also worked in the settlement houses of slums, educated immigrants, organized workers, and attempted to reform prison and the juvenile justice system. The Mary Philbrook Public Interest Award is presented each year to a leading contemporary advocate of social justice and equality, as a tribute to her lifelong struggle for justice. In addition, third year students and recent graduates are recognized for exceptional contributions to the public interest during their years in the law school.

2010 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Award. This year, we are proud to present Drewry Nash Fennell, Esquire with the 25th Mary Philbrook Public Interest Award. Congratulations! More information about Ms. Fennell can be found here.