Sidley Austin was a sponsor of the 24th annual Chicago Public Schools Mock Trial Competition, which concluded May 23 with award presentations in the Richard J. Daley Center. The Cook County Circuit Court and Chicago Bar Association also participated.

Sidley attorneys prepared the hypothetical case about an aggravated assault by a high school student in a hazing incident. The attorneys also coached several teams and helped evaluate the trials.

Partner Richard O'Malley presented the awards and U.S. savings bonds to the top four presenters.

A five-year $50,000 commitment by the SmithAmundsen Diversity Task Force to the Chicago-Kent College of Law for diversity initiatives will support a trial advocacy program and create an annual writing award.

The team that enters the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition will benefit from the gift. The writing award will be open to first-year students who add to diversity in the legal community.

Based in Chicago, the SmithAmundsen has offices in Rockford, St. Charles, Waukegan, Woodstock and Milwaukee. About 20 of its 120 members are Chicago-Kent alumni.