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Columbia Law School Social Justice Initiatives

Postgraduate Fellowships: Equal Justice Works and Justice Catalyst

Tuesday, Apr. 18
12:10-1:10 p.m. on Zoom
Register

Any student planning on working in public interest after graduation is strongly encouraged to attend this important session about the Equal Justice Works Fellowship and the Justice Catalyst Fellowship, which each support public interest work with a host organization. Staff members from both programs will provide valuable information about their fellowship, its project requirements, and the application process, and past fellows from Columbia will be on hand to discuss experiences. There will be a Q&A, so bring at least one good question!

Equal Justice Works Fellowships are due in September 2023, and Justice Catalyst Fellowships are due in December 2023.

3L Public Sector Drop-Ins with Coffee and Snacks

With SJI, OJC, and Financial Aid

Thursday, Apr. 20
2:30-4:30 p.m. in Feldberg Space, WJW 1st Floor
Register

Bring questions for SJI, the Office of Judicial Clerkships, and the Office of Financial Aid: how to complete your Bridge Loan application, how to plan for post-graduation job transitions, and more! Please register if you will attend so that we have plenty of cookies!

SJI Monday: Making the Most of Your Summer

Monday, Apr. 24
12:10-1:10 p.m. on Zoom
Register

Summer internships hold enormous value! Make the most of yours by joining SJI for the view of summer internships from the other side—the employer's. What do public interest supervisors look for in their interns? What is expected but not said? What stands out? How can you have a rewarding experience and get good assignments, great recommendations, and mentorship? This program is especially recommended for students thinking about public interest careers.

Postgraduate Fellowships

May 2: J.D. Pathways

Other

Apr. 19: Mindfulness and Racial/Social Justice Award
Apr. 24: Externship Applications Due
May 12: Public Service Bridge Loan

SJI Is Here for You

Make an advising appointment on Symplicity

Marka Belinfanti
Pro Bono

Joel Dodge
Postgraduate Fellowships, Public Interest Lawyering

Solmaz Firoz
1Ls, LL.M.s, Public Defense

Alex Hogan
Government

Kerry McLean
Human Rights, Public International Law, HRIP

Tory Messina
Career Transitions, LRAP, Public Interest Law Firms

Devi Patel
PI/PS Fellows

Hasan Shafiqullah
Direct Services, Immigration, Housing, Welfare Benefits, LGBTQ+ Advocacy

Full staff list and bios

1L Funding Alert

The Robert Masur Fellowship is open to 1Ls who intend to carry out significant activities during the summer in the areas of civil rights and/or civil liberties. Fellows receive a $2,000 honorarium. Apply by Apr. 21.

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)

Tackling North Korea's Nuclear Program and Human Rights Abuses
Apr. 18, 12 p.m.

How to Excel in Your Summer Judicial Internship
Apr. 18, 12:10 p.m.

General Counsel Panel–A Conversation on Values-Driven Leadership
Apr. 19, 12:10 p.m.

People, Rule of Law, and Supreme Courts Now
Apr. 19, 5:30 p.m.

Utopia 13/13 | Architecture and Utopia
Apr. 19, 6:15 p.m.

Clemency Town Hall
Apr. 19, 6:30 p.m.

2Ls - 2023 Pro Bono Scholars Program Info Session
Apr. 20, 12:10 p.m.

CLWA Alumnae Clerkship Mixer
Apr. 20, 6 p.m.

The Clifford Chance Lecture Series: Challenges in Regulating AI
Apr. 25, 12:10 p.m.

Join Professor Katherine Franke's Gender Justice Class
Tuesdays through Apr. 25, 4:20 p.m.
Professor Franke will open her class to the public and feature a guest speaker.

Still Seeking a Summer Internship?

Take a look at our Hot Jobs List of public interest employers still seeking interns. And reach out to an SJI adviser to discuss your search!

Social Change and Community-Based Lawyering Externships

Interested in direct legal services, law and policy, or civil litigation in social change arenas? Apply for one of the following externships by noon, Apr. 24.

Bronx Defenders Holistic Defense
Amin Fernandez, additional lecturer TBA

Constitutional Rights in Life and Death Penalty Cases
Nika Cohen, George Kendall, Corrine Irish

Criminal Appeals with Megan Bryne
Ben Schatz

Harlem Economic Justice
Tashi Lhewa, Shervon Small

Housing Justice: The Right to Counsel in Housing Court
Jackeline Solivan, Matthew Tropp

Immigration Defense
Katherine Buckel, Mia Unger

Law, Power and Social Change
Andrew Friedman, Kumar Rao

Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Community Defense (Full-Year)
Alice Fontier, Danielle Jackson

(RETURNING) Racial Justice: NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Kevin Jason, Rachel Kleinman

Donate a Bar Prep Course or Receive a Free Course!

Many bar prep courses (which firms will purchase for incoming associates) include a second course that can be donated to a public interest student.

Fill out this Student Senate form to be matched with a classmate who can offer or who needs a bar prep course.

Questions? Email Jermel McClure.

Parole Advocacy Project Fundraiser:
Mr. Johnson's Return Home

Emma Alzner and Priyanka Radhakrishnan of the Parole Advocacy Project are raising money to help a client who was granted parole after more than 20 years in prison. Learn more about their client, Mr. Johnson, and help support him as he returns home!

Select Deadlines
Download applications

J.D. Pathways:
May 2

Resources

Sign up for fellowship emails for LL.M.s, 3Ls

Intro to Fellowships (Video)

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

Funding Opportunities

MAX Scholarship Opportunities
MAX by AccessLex, which provides financial education for law students, automatically enters students into scholarship drawings if they complete online courses or attend events.

CLS Funding Resources
Internal and external funding available to and/or specifically for CLS students.

3L Bridge Loan
Receive assistance with the costs of bar registration, bar prep, and living expenses. Requires demonstrated commitment to public interest/public service. Due May 12.

Social Justice Initiatives (SJI) inspires and prepares students and graduates to pursue public service and public interest work throughout their careers anywhere in the world.

Staff List