From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: January 25, 2024
Subject: Making the Most of the PILC Fair, Spring OCI Add/Drop


Columbia Law School Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (PI/PS)
Programs and Events

Public Interest Monday:
Making the Most of the PILC Fair Panel & Q/A

Monday, Jan. 29
12:10-1:10 p.m. on Zoom
Register

Students who got their 1L internships through PILC, along with PI/PS advisers, will discuss how to schedule interviews with last-minute openings, ace interviews and table talk, and manage offers.

Or bring your PILC Fair questions to the Community Coffee Hour! Joel Dodge, director of public interest lawyering and strategic initiatives, will be on hand to discuss PILC.

Public Interest Community Coffee Hour

Wednesday, Jan. 31
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.

Note: WJW 415 is reserved for any student who needs quiet study space during the time we will be using WJW 600.

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:
Grads on Public Interest/Civil Rights Firms

Monday, Feb. 5
12:10-1:10 p.m., location TBA
Register

Graduates working at "public interest/civil rights/plaintiff's side" law firms will discuss why they chose a private firm to pursue public interest work. Angela Hyokyoung Kang ’25 will moderate the following panel:

  • Sherie Buell ’14, Partner, Bantle & Levy 
  • Felicia Gilbert ’10, Partner, Sanford Heisler Sharp
  • Shana Khader '11, Of counsel, Tycko & Zavereei
To prevent food waste, we ask that you register at least five days in advance.

Upcoming Public Interest Mondays

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

Public Defense in Family Court

Monday, Feb. 12
12:10-1:10 p.m. in JG 103
Register

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.
 

Applying for Domestic Postgraduate Fellowships

Monday, Feb. 19
12:10-1:10 p.m. in JG 103 
Register
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.
 

Additional Public Interest Mondays

  • Mar. 4: How to Exercise Prosecutorial Discretion
  • 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.

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

Jan. 30: Excelsior
Jan. 31: Columbia Justice Fellowship
Feb. 1: Leebron (J.D. deadline only)
Feb. 5: Kirkland & Ellis
 

Other

Feb. 26: 2L Racial Justice Fellowship

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

Summer Funding: Social Enterprise Fellowships

Funds summer internships that create social and environmental value. Must secure internship prior to applying. Eligible placements: 501(c)(3) nonprofits (or non-U.S. equivalent) or for-profit social ventures. Apply starting Mar. 1. More information.

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner

J.D.s: Unaccompanied Children Program Fellowship

Watch an informational webinar (Jan. 31, Feb. 20) or an application webinar (Feb. 29). Due Mar. 10.

CLS Fellowships

Download applications

  • Jan. 30: Excelsior (J.D.s)

  • Jan. 31: Columbia Justice (J.D.s)

  • Feb. 1: Leebron (J.D.s only)

  • Feb. 5: Kirkland & Ellis (J.D.s)

  • 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.

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