From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: February 8, 2024
Subject: Public Defense in Family Court, 3L Pro Bono Reminder, and More


Columbia Law School Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (PI/PS)
Photo of Hasan Shafiqullah. In this headshot, he is smiling and wearing a suit and tie, but the photo has been edited to add a puffy white chef's hat on his head. Also edited in: an illustration of a law book (the cover says LAW) positioned in front of hi

Meet the PI/PS Office!

Adviser Hasan Shafiqullah is deeply experienced in eviction and deportation defense, AND he can bake a mean fig leaf cheesecake! (That's an actual confection he brought in for us!)

Programs and Events

Public Interest Monday:
Public Defense in Family Court

Monday, Feb. 12
12:10-1:10 p.m. in JG 103
Register five days in advance to prevent food waste

Hear from family defense practitioners about their work and learn about the history of representing parents in family court. Since family defense is an interdisciplinary practice, Professor Jenny Crawford of the Columbia School of Social Work will be on hand to talk about the role of social workers on family defense teams.

Community Coffee Hour

Wednesday, Feb. 14
3-4 p.m. in WJW 600
More info

Join the Columbia Public Interest Community for coffee hour every Wednesday afternoon. Meet other students interested in public interest, connect with advisers from the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (the PI/PS Office), and recharge between classes. Coffee, tea, and cookies provided. No RSVP required.

Hosted by the Columbia Public Interest Community—part of the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (the PI/PS Office).

Public Interest Monday:
Applying for Domestic Postgraduate Fellowships

Monday, Feb. 19
12:10-1:10 p.m. in JG 103
Register five days in advance to prevent food waste

Postgraduate fellowships serve as one of the main entry points into a public interest/public service career, and there are many of them! For 2L students thinking about public interest positions that will begin in fall 2025 (as well as 3Ls who will seek a fellowship following a clerkship), it is time to understand the fellowship landscape and begin your planning.

Lunch with Dean Smock

Thursday, Feb. 22
12:10-1:10 p.m. in WCW Levien, 10th Floor
Register ASAP

Have lunch with Dean Smock! Chat with your public interest peers, learn more about exciting public interest opportunities at Columbia Law from the dean of the PI/PS Office, and share your ideas for public interest community building at CLS. Come hungry!

Limited seating—register ASAP!

Upcoming Public Interest Mondays

To prevent food waste, we ask that you register for in-person events at least five days in advance.
 

How to Exercise Prosecutorial Discretion

Monday, Mar. 4
12:10-1:10 p.m., Location TBD
Register

This program will feature several federal prosecutors, each specializing in a different area of criminal law. The focus will be on prosecutorial discretion and why thoughtful prosecutors are essential in light of the broad discretion they are afforded. Learn how they choose the types of crime to prosecute, evaluate relative levels of culpability, and approach sentencing recommendations.
 

Additional Public Interest Mondays

  • Mar. 18: Radical Lawyering in Conservative Spaces
  • Mar. 25: Making the Most of Your 1L Summer

Spring OCI: Add/Drop Period Is Open (J.D.s)

Some public sector employers participating Spring Virtual On-Campus Interviewing have openings in their interview schedule. More openings may become available. To check available slots, visit Symplicity's OCI module.

Questions? Please contact Rebecca Hinde.

Upcoming Deadlines

Pro Bono

Mar. 1: Deadline for 3Ls to complete 40 hours of pro bono and register the hours on LawNet
Mar. 22: Deadline for 3Ls participating in a spring break caravan to submit an exit questionnaire and request a supervisor’s report
 

Postgraduate Fellowships

Mar. 3: Leebron (LL.M.s only), Global Public Service
Mar. 6: Haas
Mar. 13: LL.M. Pathways
 

Other

Feb. 26: 2L Racial Justice Fellowship
Feb 29: Student Human Rights Action Fund

The PI/PS Office Is Here for You

Make an advising appointment on Symplicity

Marka Belinfanti
Pro Bono, General 1L Advising

Joel Dodge
Postgraduate Fellowships, Public Interest Lawyering

Jean Fischman
Berger Fellows

Emily Harris
Public Defense, General 1L Advising

Alex Hogan
Government

Kerry McLean
Human Rights, Public International Law, HRIP

Tory Messina
Career Transitions, LRAP, Public Interest Law Firms, General 1L Advising

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

Grace Shim
Employment, Housing, Civil Rights, Nonprofit Management, Mediation, General 1L Advising

Full staff list and bios
News and Notes

Reminder for 3Ls

Mar. 1 is the deadline to complete your pro bono graduation requirement and register the hours on LawNet. Questions? Email probono@law.columbia.edu.

Law and Organizing Academy

May 20-23 in Upstate New York

The immersive retreat brings law students together to build community and learn frameworks and skills at the intersection of organizing, law, and political economy. Apply to attend by Feb. 29.
 

Student Human Rights Action Fund

This HRI initiative aims to support student-led activities with grants of up to $1,000 for events, workshops, seminars, and other endeavors promoting human rights on campus and in the community. Deadline: Feb. 23.

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner

Info Sessions

CLS Fellowships

Download applications

  • Mar. 3: Leebron (LL.M.s only), Global Public Service (J.D.s and LL.M.s)

  • Mar. 6: Haas (J.D.s and LL.M.s)

  • Mar. 13: LL.M. Pathways

Resources

The Columbia Public Interest Community...

...is for all justice-minded students, regardless of where they will work after graduation. Join on CLS Connect today! Learn more.

Funding Opportunities

2Ls Racial Justice Fellowship
Students who intend to pursue racial justice legal work immediately after graduation/clerkship are eligible. Provides $25,000 in 3L fall. Due Feb. 26.

3L Bridge Loan
LRAP-eligible loan for pre-bar expenses. Due May 10.

Tamer Center Social Enterprise Fellowships (Summer Funding)

Funds summer internships that create social and environmental value. Apply starting Mar. 1. 

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

MAX Scholarship Opportunities
MAX automatically enters students into scholarship drawings if they complete online financial education or attend events.

The Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (the PI/PS Office) inspires and prepares students and graduates to pursue public service and public interest work throughout their careers anywhere in the world.

Staff List