From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: October 6, 2022
Subject: Native Rights at SCOTUS, Direct Services, ZigZag Careers


Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School
Events and Programs

Today! SJI Monday: Native Rights in the Supreme Court—Virtual

Monday, Oct. 10, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Zoom

On Indigenous Peoples' Day, Columbia Law School Professor Precious Benally ’13 (Navajo) and Stephanie Amiotte (Oglala Lakota), legal director of the ACLU of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming, will discuss Native rights at the Supreme Court, with a focus on Brackeen case.

SJI/SPIN Public Interest Lawyering Series: Direct Services

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
WJW 309

In this installment of the Public Interest Lawyering Series, practitioners in direct services will talk about about their career paths, employers, and day-to-day practice. Lunch will be provided.

1L Mandatories This Week


Introduction to Summer Funding—Virtual 

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Zoom

Learn how to receive Columbia Summer Funding (CSF) and Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP) funding and to apply for additional funding. Mandatory for all 1Ls unless you have confirmed private sector employment, submitted the opt-out form on your checklist, and received approval confirmation from an adviser.
 

New 1L Mandatory Webinar Available:
Interview Tips for Public Interest and Government Positions


Watch one of these two pre-recorded webinars to learn how to interview for a summer position in the public sector.

Reminder: If you haven't yet, please watch the Resume Training webinar (required in order to meet with a career adviser). More on 1L Professional Pathways requirements.

ZigZag: Careers Across Public Interest, Public Service, and Private Sectors

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 5-6 p.m.
WJW 416 
Register

Graduates will discuss how they navigated multiple career transitions. They will cover moving between private law firms and companies, clerkships, government, academia, and nonprofits. With:

  • Madiba Dennie ’15: Counsel, Brennan Center Democracy Program. Previously: NYC Council Committee on Public Housing, Her Justice.
  • Jennifer Fernandez ‘13: Assistant Professor, CUNY. Previously: Civil Clinic at U Penn Law School, Queens Legal Services, and Neighborhood Defender Service Civil Defense Practice.
  • Esther Kim ’14: Trial Attorney, NJ Office of the Public Defender. Previously: Patterson Belknap.
  • Katherine Malone '11: Associate Counsel for Integrity & Investigations, NBA. Previously: Manhattan DA, Alaska Supreme Court, Boise Schiller.
Refreshments will be served. With the OCS, OJC, CLWA, and CJAN.

Government Fellowship Info Session: Millstein and Excelsior Fellowships

Thursday, Oct. 13, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
WJW 416
RSVP

Learn about two postgraduate opportunities: the Millstein Fellowship and the Excelsior Service Fellowship. Millstein Fellow Jesse Hubbard ’18 and Excelsior Fellow Pablo Zevallos ’19 will join. Lunch will be provided.

One-year Millstein Fellowships place one fellow in a federal government position related to financial regulation and another in any federal position. Excelsior Fellows work within New York State government for two years. Learn more about these fellowships.

SJI Monday: Being a Civil Rights Lawyer in the Federal Government

Monday, Oct. 17, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 102A

David Kennedy and Ellen Blain are co-chiefs of the Civil Rights Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. In that role, they have prosecuted landmarkcases in fair housing, carceral reform, employment discrimination, accessibility, religious discrimination, abuse by law enforcement, and more. Hear them talk substantively about their work and career trajectories. Lunch will be provided.

Save the Dates!

Public Interest Lawyering Series: Public Defense with PDS
Oct. 18, 12:10 p.m. 

SJI Monday: Careers in Human Rights—Virtual
Oct. 24, 12:10 p.m.

Pro Bono Spring Break Caravan Info Session
Oct. 26, 12:10 p.m.

SJI Monday: Guidance for Finding a Government Job
Oct. 31, 12:10 p.m.

Labor Law Panel with the Peggy Browning Fund and Prof. Andrias
Nov. 2, 12:10 p.m., JG 546
Learn about opportunities to do this work over the summer and receive funding!

Spring Experiential Learning


Family Defense Clinic Info Session

Oct.18, 12:10-1:10 p.m., Zoom

Join CLS’s new faculty member and Family Defense Clinic director Josh Gupta-Kagan to learn more about the clinic and the field of family defense and the family regulation system. In the Family Defense Clinic, students will advocate for parents who face surveillance, regulation, and the threat of family separation from the Administration for Children’s Services.
 

Spring Experiential Learning Application Due Oct. 25

Visit the experiential learning page for the application, a recorded info session, and more. The Experiential Learning Office will also host the following events.

Experiential Learning Information Event
Oct. 13, WJW Lobby, 5-7 p.m. 

Clinics Open House
Oct.19, Lunchtime, Location TBD
Upcoming Deadlines
A non-exhaustive list of upcoming student deadlines

Postgraduate Fellowships

Oct. 10: Sandler Human Rights Watch
Nov. 1: Singer Social Justice
Nov. 15: Texas Defender Services Manne Family
Dec. 4: Millstein Financial Regulation
Dec. 4: Millstein Government Service

Other

Nov. 30: Themis bar prep scholarship deadline
 

SJI Is Here for You

Make an advising appointment on Symplicity
(Not open to 1Ls yet)

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

Chaula Shukla
1Ls

Full staff list and bios
News and Notes

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner


Select Deadlines

Finberg Human Rights Watch (J.D.s, LL.M.s)
Due Oct. 10

Sandler Human Rights Watch (J.D.s)
Due Oct. 10

Singer Social Justice Fellowship (J.D.s)
Due Nov. 1

Manne Family/Texas Defender Service (J.D.s)
Due Nov. 15

Millstein Financial Regulation (J.D.s)
Due Dec. 4

Millstein Government Service (J.D.s)
Due Dec. 4

Haas Public Service (J.D.s, LL.M.s)
Due Mar. 1
 

Resources

Sign up for Joel Dodge's fellowship emails for LL.M.s and 3Ls

Intro to Postgraduate Fellowships (Video)

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)

Public Interest Employer Info Sessions

  • Oct. 13: District Council 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services
  • Oct. 18: Lawyers for Children
  • Nov. 3: Center for Family Representation, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley

Reviving the Public’s Rights in Medical Technologies: Legal Advocacy for an Equitable Epidemic Response
Oct. 20, 12:10 p.m.

Resources on the Supreme Court

Many students have expressed concern about the Supreme Court's current jurisprudential direction and its impact on their career plans. With faculty and student groups, we have developed a list of resources to help you think about these issues. The list is not exhaustive; we welcome your suggestions.

Funding Resources

CLS Funding Resources: a spreadsheet of internal and external funding (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, summer funding, grants, and loans) available to and/or specifically for CLS students.

Themis Bar Review Scholarship: for students going into public interest, government, or a clerkship. Apply by Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.
 

Have You Joined Lawlink?

Columbia LawLink is the CLS community hub for current students to connect with alumni.

 

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