From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: February 1, 2024
Subject: Grads on Public Interest Law Firms, PILC Drop-In, and More


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

Public Interest Monday:
Grads on Public Interest/Civil Rights Firms

Monday, Feb. 5
12:10-1:10 p.m., JG 103
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

Community Coffee Hour

Wednesday, Feb. 7
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.
 
Have questions about the PILC Fair? Bring them to coffee on Wednesday! Adviser Emily Harris will be there to discuss.

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:
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.
 

Upcoming Public Interest Mondays

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

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.
 

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.

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

Feb. 5: Kirkland & Ellis
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

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
Postgraduate Fellowship Corner

Info Sessions

Watch an informational webinar (Feb. 20) or an application webinar (Feb. 29) on the Unaccompanied Children Program Fellowship (for J.D.s; due Mar. 10).
 

CLS Fellowships

Download applications

  • 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.

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