portrait

Monica A. Fennell

Part-time Assistant Professor in the Honor Scholar Program

monicafennell@depauw.edu

Statement on Scholarly or Artistic Work

  • As pro bono counsel at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, Monica leads the pro bono program across the firm's Midwest offices. This includes identifying and developing opportunities for the program, establishing an integrated pro bono system across the firm, and ensuring that all Faegre Drinker pro bono legal services are consistent with the firm's values and commitment to improving the communities it serves. In 2022, Monica taught law as a Fulbright Scholar at Maldives National University.
  • Before becoming pro bono counsel, Monica served as the executive director of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission and was a Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States. Monica began her legal career as a litigator in big cities and a small town.
  • Monica earned her B.A., cum laude, from Williams College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She also holds a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies as a Rotary Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Educational Background

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • B.A. in French and English, Williams College

Teaching Interests

Access to Justice and Poverty Law, Community Mediation, Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics

Research, Scholarly, Creative Work

  • "Women of 'Sense and Steel," Indiana State Bar Association magazine Res Gestae, 2024
  • "It's as Beautiful as You Think," ABA Center for Pro Bono blog, 2022
  • "Using Peace and Conflict Analysis to Spur Innovation in Access to Justice in the U.S." in Problems, Threats and Challenges for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Adam Marszalek Publishing House, Torun, Poland, 2021
  • "ABA Free Legal Answers—helping to stem the tide of civil cases," ABA Judicial Division Record, 2021
  • "Lighting One Candle Provides Light for a Long Time: Pro Bono for Holocaust Survivors," American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono blog, 2020
  • "Celebrating Pro Bono in a Pandemic," ABA Judicial Division Record, 2020
  • "Virtual Clinics for Online Pro Bono Help: Hurdling Barriers to Pro Bono," Dialogue, ABA 2016
  • "Beyond the City Square: Fishing in Wider Pools Without Soundings," Fordham Urban Law Journal City Square, 39 (2012): 11 
  • "Using State Legal Needs Studies to Increase Access to Justice for Low-Income Families," 48 Family Court Review, 48 (2010): 619 
  • "Emergent Identity: A Comparative Analysis of the New Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Supreme Court of the United States," Temple International and Comparative Law Journal, (2008):279 
  • "Hunger and Homelessness: Why the Homeless Need Food Stamp Advocacy and How to Pay for It," Fordham Urban Law Journal, 21 (1993): 127 
  • "Missing the Mark in Maryland: How Poor Drafting and Implementation Vitiated a Model State Gun Control Law," Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy, 13 (1992): 37

Awards and Honors

  • Fulbright Scholar, Maldives National University (2022)
  • Shepard Award for excellence in pro bono, Indiana Pro Bono Commission (2015)
  • Rotary Peace Fellow, Chulalongkorn University (2012)
  • Distinguished Barrister Award for Leadership in Law (2011)
  • Justice Thomas Clark Award for excellence as Supreme Court Fellow (2008)
  • U.S. Supreme Court Fellow (2007-2008)

Service and Leadership

  • Board Member, Social Promise
  • Ethics Bowl Judge, Prindle Institute for Ethics
  • We the People Judge, Indiana Bar Foundation
  • Editorial Board Member, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
  • Executive Committee Member, ABA Judicial Division Lawyers Conference 
  • Member, Association of Pro Bono Counsel

Speaking Engagements and Presentations

  • Speaker, “Professional Responsibility Pointers for Working with Legal Aid and Pro Bono Clients,” Indiana Coalition for Court Access conference, Indianapolis (October 18, 2024).
  • Speaker, “Civil procedure case study for Maldivian judiciary,” Maldivian Judicial Academy (September 26, 2024).
  • Speaker, “Promoting peace—access to justice delivery systems in the U.S.,” Rotary Club of Ranchi, India, district seminar (May 5, 2024).
  • Speaker, “Drawing the Line: Ethics Tips for Working with Pro Bono and Legal Aid Clients,” Indiana Coalition for Court Access conference, Indianapolis (October 26, 2023).
  • Speaker, “Soft Skills for Lawyers, Research and Writing Training,” Maldives Attorney General’s Office (May 24, 2023).
  • Speaker, “Role of the pro bono lawyer in increasing access to justice,” Bar Council of the Maldives (March 30, 2022).
  • Speaker, “Effective Advocacy in the Courtroom,” Maldives National University Addu campus (March 27, 2022).
  • Speaker, “Women and the U.S. Supreme Court,” American Center Malé (March 24, 2022).
  • Speaker, “Access to Justice: Legal Aid, Pro Bono and the Role of the Law Firm,” Maldives National University (March 16, 2022).
  • Speaker, “Launching a Court-Based Pro Bono Clinic,” American Bar Association webinar (September 2021).
  • Speaker, “Feeling Good by Doing Good: Access to Justice and Wellness,” American Bar Association webinar (June 2021).
  • Speaker, “Hosting Pro Bono Clinics In-House (Virtual and On-Site),” ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference (May 2021).
  • Speaker, “Using peace and conflict analysis to spur innovation in access to justice in the U.S.,” 7th annual International Congress on Asian Studies, Poznan, Poland (October 2020).
  • Speaker, “Conducting Mediation Remotely: Access to Justice Challenges Amidst a Pandemic,” Indiana State Bar Association webinar (June 2020).
  • Speaker, “Innovations in Bridging the Justice Gap in Rural America,” American Bar Association webinar (December 2019).

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