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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LEGACY OF THOMAS LEAHY
WHEREAS, Thomas Leahy, a stellar trial lawyer and effective leader for equality in the legal community who had a tremendous and long-lasting impact on the legal community died August 23, leaving behind, family, colleagues and a community enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Leahy was born and grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. He graduated from Highland Park High School and later attended the University of Notre Dame and Loyola University School of Law, Chicago; and
WHEREAS, while in law school, Thomas Leahy worked for the personal injury defense firm of Clausen, Miller, Gorman, Caffrey & Witous and the plaintiff personal injury firm of Philip H. Corboy & Associates. He became an associate attorney at the Corboy firm after graduation and remained there until he left to start his own firm in 1980, The Law Office of Tom Leahy. In 2002 he joined with Peter Hoste to form his Chicago law firm, Leahy & Hoste; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Leahy dedicated himself to improving the legal community in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Leahy became interested in the field of legal education and led the Illinois State Bar Association in the reform of standards for legal education; his goal was to insure that law students were better prepared for the practice of law. He was a major leader in the movement to mandate clinical education programs for all law schools, and because of his leadership all law schools today have clinical programs. In addition to providing valuable practical skills these clinical programs largely benefit those in the community who are unable to afford legal services; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Leahy tirelessly dedicated himself to various bar associations and their development of the profession. He became further involved with the Illinois State Bar Association and served as the elected young lawyer delegate to the American Bar Association Hou...
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