November 14, 2008

Alumnus Larry McDonough ’83 receives Minnesota Justice Foundation Distinguished Service Award

William Mitchell alumnus Larry McDonough ’83 is the 2008 recipient of the Minnesota Justice Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contributions to the community

McDonough, a practicing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis since 1986, has been called Minnesota’s housing law leader and a backbone of public interest law. He currently serves as the managing attorney of the Housing Unit at Legal Aid, representing low-income clients in housing and consumer law.

He also has taught as an adjunct professor at area law schools, including William Mitchell, and created the housing law clinic and poverty law course at the University of Minnesota.

In 2000, William Mitchell named McDonough among the “100 Who Made a Difference” for substantially improving the legal climate for Minnesotans in poverty by drafting housing bills, writing the widely used manual Residential Unlawful Detainer and Eviction Defense, and taking on hundreds of cases in defense of low-income tenants. In 2004, he received the National Lawyers Guild Minnesota Chapter’s First Annual Paul Marino People’s Lawyer Award, named for the late William Mitchell professor, McDonough’s law school mentor and friend.

The MJF awards committee cited McDonough’s passion for representing individuals and families in need and his commitment to sharing that passion through teaching law students. Many of McDonough’s students have entered the public service field, a testament to his example.

McDonough gained practical legal experience while a student himself at William Mitchell through the law school’s clinical programs and Minnesota Justice Foundation volunteer opportunities.

“It’s important for students to see the practical application of the academic knowledge acquired in the classroom,” he said.

McDonough is among several individuals in the legal community receiving Outstanding Service Awards at the Minnesota Justice Foundation’s 2008 Anniversary celebration Nov. 20. The Minnesota Justice Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting volunteer law students with opportunities to assist attorneys in meeting the legal needs of the low-income community.

In addition to his legal work, McDonough is an accomplished pianist and has produced several CDs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Minnesota.