Richard D. Felice, a lawyer in private practice in Wheaton and president of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), received the Alumnus of the Year Award from Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Law on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at a ceremony at the University Club of Chicago.

Felice (’79) was selected for the award based on outstanding achievements in his career, demonstrated service to the NIU College of Law, demonstrated service to his community, and professional integrity.

During his year as president, Felice is placing special emphasis on three projects. The first is the formation of a Task Force on the Impact of Law School Debt on the Future of the Profession to address the tremendous challenges facing new lawyers, including staggering law school debt and a stifling job market. The second initiative is the formation of a Solo and Small Firm Practice Institute Series, offering educational programs to solo and small firm practitioners in five settings throughout the state. The third program focuses on civics education. Working with the ISBA’s Law Related Education Committee, the organization is expanding its civics education programming to high school students and will also work with Illinois Judges Association on its “Courtroom in the Classroom” project.

The 33,000-member Illinois State Bar Association, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public through a website (illinoislawyerfinder.com), consumer brochures and the distribution of legal information.