Hon. Christopher E. Lawler, (Ret.), senior mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems, recently received the Celtic Legal Society of Chicago’s Celt of the Year Award. This honor recognizes his 33-year legal career’s commitment to the Society’s motto, Cothrom cirt is trocaire, which in English means “Justice and mercy.”

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award, especially as I was recommended for it by attorneys and judges that I greatly respect and consider mentors” Judge Lawler said. “They too have committed their careers to justice and mercy, and I am grateful to be regarded among them.”

Judge Lawler began his judicial career in the Circuit Court of Cook County Civil Division of Municipal District 6. He strove to make each decision as a judge with mercy and justice in mind, sensitive to the experiences of the parties and in accordance with relevant law. “The irony is that I kept those words in my head as a professional mantra, but I had no idea that ‘Justice and mercy’ was the Society’s motto until a few years ago, after I started as a judge.”

These values were instilled in Judge Lawler at an early age. Raised in a large Irish, Catholic family, his parents taught him about how his ancestors immigrated to the United States with very little, strove to attain quality education and build better lives for their families and community. “’You are blessed with so much,’ my parents would say, ‘You have to give back. You have to serve others.’”

And while this motto is rooted in his faith, he contends that it goes beyond any one religion: “They’re humanitarian values, justice and mercy. It’s about trying to make life better for those around you. That’s what makes any lawyer a Celt of the Year: how you serve your fellow man.”

To learn more about Judge Lawler as a senior mediator and arbitrator, click here.

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Hon. Christopher E. Lawler (Ret.) has more than 33 years of experience in personal injury and commercial matters as a respected litigator and sought-after pretrial judge. As a jurist, he pretried over 1,200 cases, handling some of the largest cases in Cook County history. Judge Lawler applies his legal knowledge and his experience from decades of community involvement to his mediations and arbitrations. His volunteer service has given him important insight into the needs of a wide variety of people, helping him to better facilitate the resolution of disputes.

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