Class Action

Northern Illinois University law students Karli Wiseman and Chuck Randolph were awarded scholarships donated by NIU College of Law alumnus Kenneth Chessick, a doctor and malpractice lawyer who uses money from each of his settlements to begin a scholarship named after the victim in the case. “I think it’s great he’s doing this,” Randolph said. “It goes against that whole stereotype of the money-grubbing lawyer.” Chronicle photo KATE WEBER

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DeKALB - Kenneth Chessick had built a successful law firm in Schaumburg representing people suing for medical malpractice. But while he found it rewarding to win families settlements in the suits, the Northern Illinois University alumnus found something was lacking. &#8220They get the money, but money is never an adequate replacement for your mother or daughter or sister,” he said. &#8220It's never adequate, but it's all our system provides.” Chessick, who is also a practicing doctor, decided to provide more - a legacy for his clients. For every case he wins or settles, he creates a new $1,000 scholarship - named after the deceased - for second-year students at the NIU College of Law. &#8220The family has the satisfaction of knowing their loved one will be remembered always,” he said. &#8220It's a wonderful healing mechanism for the client.” Chessick donated $25,000 to begin an endowment for the scholarship program, and will continue to add to the amount as he wins or settles cases. As the endowment grows, the amount of each scholarship may increase, a college of law spokeswoman said. Two scholarships have been awarded so far, and a third is in the works, Chessick said. &#8220I think it's great he's doing this,” said Chuck Randolph, the second-year law student who was the first winner of the Lakisha Sarden scholarship. Sarden was a 13-year-old girl whose sickle cell disease went untreated and led to heart failure. &#8220It goes against that whole stereotype of the money-grubbing lawyer.” In addition to providing closure for his clients, Chessick said, he wants to remind students buried in their studies that there are real people behind case law. &#8220It's not just abstract,” he said. &#8220These are real people, real cases, real effects. ... I want them to realize that what they are studying matters.” LeRoy Pernell, dean of the NIU College of Law, hopes students take that lesson to heart. &#8220Law is one of the helping professions,” he said. &#8220This helps to tell the story of what the legal system does to help people.” In addition to maintaining excellent grades, students competing for the scholarships write an essay about the impact of different types of law on society. The essay was a good way to distill a year of study &#8220back to the basics,” second-year student Karli Wiseman said. &#8220It's geared not toward cases or literature, but how the law helps people in society,” she said. &#8220I didn't write a scholarly article, I just wrote about what I felt about law in society.” Wiseman is the first recipient of the Hope Moller scholarship, named for a 36-year-old woman who died of breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease too late. The scholarship program is not Chessick's first gift to his alma mater. In 1999, he created a training center that helps law students become familiar with courtroom technology. He has also sat on several boards and appeared at the college as a guest lecturer. The success of alumni like Chessick encourages students to think they don't need to go to law school in Chicago to be successful, Wiseman said. &#8220They see his success and understand they can go out and help people and be successful,” Pernell said. Dana Herra can be reached at dherra@daily-chronicle.com.