From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: January 27, 2022
Subject: Intro to Postgraduate Fellowships, Funding Resource, PILC


Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School

New Resources

Updated Columbia Law School Funding Resource
A spreadsheet of internal and external funding opportunities (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, summer funding, grants, and loans) that are available to and/or exist specifically for Columbia Law School students. This resource is not exhaustive and will be updated periodically by the Office of Financial Aid and Social Justice Initiatives.

Public Interest/Public Service Curricular Guidelines
Guidance on choosing classes and activities that offer the knowledge and skills needed for particular areas of public interest or public service. Created with input from advisers, faculty, practitioners, and more. Note: not an exhaustive list; consult the Law School Curriculum Guide search tool for up-to-date offerings.

SJI's List of Resources in Support of Racial Equality
We just updated this list, which is intended to serve as a starting point for Law School community members interested in this work or to supplement resources members are already using. Suggest a resource.

Events and Programs

SJI Monday:
Introduction to Postgraduate Fellowships

January 31, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Register

Postgraduate fellowships serve as one of the main entry points into a public interest or public service career, and there are many of them! For 2Ls thinking about public interest positions that will begin in fall 2023, as well as 3Ls who will seek a fellowship following a clerkship, it's time to understand the fellowship landscape and begin your planning.

DC Externship Info Session

February 1, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Register

Learn more about the Externship on the Federal Government: Semester in Washington, DC, which allows students to earn credit while working full-time within the federal government or at a Washington, DC-based nonprofit. Open to 3Ls in the fall and 2Ls and 3Ls in the spring.

PILC Fair Virtual Drop-In

February 2, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Zoom link

Do you have questions about participating in the upcoming PILC Fair? Drop in with SJI advisers and fellow students to talk about interviewing and participating in table talk.

Columbia Summer Funding Mandatory Payment Session with HR and Financial Aid

February 10, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Register

Representatives from SJI, Human Resources, and Financial Aid will be present to discuss paperwork and payment logistics, and answer your questions about the summer payment process.

Add Yourself to OCI (1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls)

The Virtual On-Campus Interview Program has started, but some participating employers still have open spots on their schedule. Check Symplicity for employers, dates, and instructions.

Upcoming Deadlines
A non-exhaustive list of upcoming student deadlines
 

Postgraduate Fellowships

Jan. 31: Excelsior, BLBG
Feb 7: Leebron (J.D.s only)
Mar 1: Leebron (LL.M.s only), Global Public Service, Haas
Mar 14: LL.M. Pathways
 

1L Deadlines

Jan. 31 at 8 a.m.: Deadline for PILC Fair late registration
Jan. 31: Kramer Levin Racial Justice Initiative Scholars
 

2L Deadlines

Feb. 25: 2L Racial and Social Justice Fellowships
 

3L Deadlines

Mar. 1: 3L Deadline to complete and register pro bono hours on Lawnet

SJI Is Here for You

Make an advising appointment

Joel Dodge
Postgraduate Fellowships, Public Interest Lawyering

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

Kerry McLean
Human Rights, Public International Law, HRIP

Tory Messina
Career Transitions, LRAP, Public Interest Law Firms

Nadine Mompremier
Pro Bono, Summer Funding

Devi Patel
PI/PS Fellows

Chaula Shukla
1Ls

Kiran Singh
Government

Full staff list and bios
News and Notes

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner


BLBG Extended Until 1/31

The Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann Public Interest Fellowship provides 3Ls the opportunity to work in a litigation role at a public interest organization for two years before joining the firm’s world class investor-side litigation practice. 
 

Other Select Deadlines

Excelsior: 1/31
Work in NYS government

Leebron: 2/7 for J.D.s, 3/1 for LL.M.s.
Human rights in the U.S. or abroad

LL.M. Pathways: 3/14
Ten to 52 weeks in public interest, government, or human rights

Global Public Service: 3/1
Public interest or intergovernmental work; Asia-based hosts preferred (J.D., LL.M.)

Haas: 3/1
For students from China to work short-term in U.S. public interest
 

Check Out SJI's Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

1L Opportunities


Kramer Levin Racial Justice Initiative Scholars

Due 1/31

Racial Justice Initiative Scholars take part in monthly clinics focused on combating racial injustice and inequality. Satisfies the NYS Pro Bono Requirement but not the CLS Requirement.

1Ls: Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholars 

Deadline Is Rolling

Spend 1L summer doing pro bono work at the organization of your choice and 2L summer as an associate at the firm. Pro Bono Scholars are paid the standard summer associate salary and are eligible for a $25,000 scholarship (contingent on returning to the firm). More

Other Funding


Tamer Social Enterprise Summer Fellowships (1Ls, 2Ls)

Funding for students engaged in summer internships with social and environmental value. Application period opens 3/1, with rolling deadlines on 3/15, 4/1, and 4/15
 

2L Racial and Social Justice Fellowships

Funding for 2Ls who intend to pursue racial justice legal work after graduation and/or 2Ls who are from racially underrepresented groups and intend to pursue other social justice legal work after graduation. Fellows receive their funding in the fall of their 3L year. Deadline: 2/25
 

3L Bridge Loan

LRAP-eligible loan($10,000 max.) for public interest 3Ls for bar course registration and other postgraduate living expenses. Deadline: 5/13

Public Interest Essay Competition

Deadline: 2/1

The UPenn Law Review seeks student articles on social justice and public interest law. The winner receives a cash prize and a grant to implement a project related to the article. More info

Connect with the Public Interest/Public Service Council

The council is a large group of senior alumni who are experts and leaders (past and present) in the public interest and government sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad. Students interested in connecting with a council member should email SJI Dean Erica Smock.

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
Statement from the SJI Racial Justice Committee