By Cynthia Castellon, 3L

Public Interest Summer Grant Program

Public Interest Law Week is just around the corner, and the importance of the event is greater this year than ever before. With the down turn in the economy, the need for public interest law has increased while the number of available paid jobs for law students has decreased. The week of events will raise awareness about the public interest legal field as well as raise the funds needed for the Public Interest Law Summer Grant Program.

Since the vast majority of public interest firms are unable to pay summer interns, the grant gives students an opportunity to work for public interest agencies for pay. Many of these firms see students as a necessary part of their services. As more and more people fall on hard economic times, more of them are qualifying for public services. An increase of people qualifying also comes with a increased need for volunteers and student workers.

“The summer public interest law grants provides students with opportunities to work with a nonprofit organization that provides free or low-cost legal assistance to low-income or marginalized individuals or underserved communities,” Ronald Aranovsky, Chair of the Public Interest Law Committee, said. For nineteen years the goal of the week has been to raise as much money as possible in order to provide as many grants as possible. Every year the number of applicants outnumbers the number of grants available, and this year does not look any different.

“One way for students to improve their chances of receiving a grant is to become actively involved in Public Interest Law Week fundraising activities,” Prof. Aranovsky said. “It also helps if students have already received a summer clerkship offer from a qualifying organization, or at least applied for a clerkship, by the time they submit the summer grant application.” Applications for the grant are due in the Spring once students have started applying for jobs or have a summer job lined up. The committee that determines which students will receive the grant takes into consideration whether students volunteered and helped in the planning of Public Interest Law Week and took part in the events.

Public Interest Law Week

Public Interest Law Week will take place from October 23 through October 29 and will be filled with fundraising events and informational sessions.

The week will kick off on Friday, October 23 with the first ever Casino Night/Live Auction co-hosted by the SBA. The event will take place in the Louis XVI Room from 7pm to 11pm. There will be table games, a poker tournament, drinks and appetizers, and great items auctioned off. Tickets to Casino Night will be sold the week prior to the event in front of Westmoreland. All students, faculty, and community members are welcome to attend.

The following Monday, October 26, Leslie Starr Heimov, Executive Director of the Children’s Law Center, will be the Public Interest Law Week Keynote Speaker. The event will take place in room W311 at 12:30pm, and is intended to raise awareness about public interest opportunities that are available. Monday will also be the start of the Bake Sale that will be in front of Westmoreland and will run through Wednesday, October 28. Additionally, pre-bids for the silent auction will begin on Monday. The silent auction bid binder will be available in front of Westmoreland.

Tuesday, October 27 during lunch will be the always exciting Trivia Bowl. Twenty teams of up to 5 people will have the opportunity to test their knowledge on legal topics and pop culture. Whether it’s by forming a team or cheering on your friends and professors, the Trivia Bowl always proves to be an entertaining event.

The Exercise-A-Thon will be held on Wednesday, October 28 during lunch at the fitness center. Deans, professors, and students will run on the treadmill or elliptical machine for pledges as students watch and cheer them on.

The week will conclude on Thursday, October 29 with the Public Interest Career Fair and the Silent Auction. The Career Fair is co-sponsored by the Career Center and will include employers and information about job opportunities in the Public Interest Field.

The Silent Auction finale will be held in the Salle Moderne from 4pm to 6pm, and this will be the final opportunity to show support and place bids on the great items being auctioned off.

Public Interest Law Week is made possible by the hard work and dedication of the Public Interest Law Committee who begin in the summer preparing for all these events. The success of the week is made possible by everyone who volunteers or contributes, whether it is by buying an item at the live auction or buying a cookie during the bake sale. To find out how you can get involved add the Public Interest Law Committee TWEN or email sherrick@swlaw.edu.