From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: September 28, 2022
Subject: SJI Monday, the Scoop, and More


Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School
Events and Programs

SJI Monday: Intro to Government Lawyering—Local, State, and Federal

Monday, Oct. 3, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 102A

Join us for a panel of professionals from local, state, and federal government. Learn about numerous practice areas, such as environmental law, civil rights, anti-corruption, voting rights, gun control, consumer protection, and labor and employment, as well as government hiring practices. Cosponsor: SPIN. Lunch will be provided.

The Scoop on 1L Public Interest Summers

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
WJW First Floor Feldberg
RSVP

Get the inside scoop on summer internships from 2L and 3L Columbia Summer Funding/Human Rights Internship Program participants about their experiences working in a variety of areas. This is a non-panel event; students can move freely from table to table. Lunch will be provided.

1L Mandatory Cover Letter Training Program

Thursday, Oct. 6, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 101: Ginsburg, JG 103: Briffault, JG 104: Bobbitt, JG 106: Balganesh


Public interest, human rights, and government employers often rely more on cover letters than resumes to assess candidates, so a thoughtful and well-written cover letter is essential to your application materials. Learn how to effectively communicate your background and experience in written format for internships and other opportunities. All 1Ls must attend. Lunch will be provided.

SJI Monday: Native Rights in the Supreme Court

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

In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, join 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, for an SJI Monday conversation about Native rights at the Supreme Court, with a focus on the Brackeen case.

1L Mandatory Programs

Please visit the 1L Professional Pathways page for more about 1L professional development requirements

Resume Training Webinar
Released Sept. 19

Cover Letter Mandatory (Live Program)
Oct. 6, 12:10 p.m.

Interviewing Webinar
Release: Oct. 10

Intro to Summer Funding* (Live Program)
Oct. 12, 12:10 p.m.

*Includes the Columbia Summer Funding (CSF) and Human Rights Internship (HRIP) Programs
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

New! Resources on Current Issues Related to the Supreme Court

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

Student Groups: Register Your In-House Pro Bono Project

Register your project so it will be included on our website and in our emails.

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner


New Fellowships

Finberg Human Rights Watch (J.D.s, LL.M.s)
Work in the Human Rights Watch New York or Washington, DC office for one year. Due Oct. 10.

Singer Social Justice Fellowship (J.D.s)
Work in public interest in the U.S. for two years. Due Nov. 1.

Millstein Financial Regulation (J.D.s)
Work in financial regulation in the federal government for one year. Due Dec. 4.

Millstein Government Service (J.D.s)
Work within the federal government for one year. Due Dec. 4.
 

Additional Select Deadlines

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

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

Resources

Sign up for Joel Dodge's fellowship emails

Intro to Postgraduate Fellowships (Video)

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)

Public Interest Employer Info Sessions

  • Oct. 4: Committee for Public Counsel Services
  • Oct. 5: Church World Service Jersey City

DC Info Session for 2Ls and 3Ls
Oct. 6, 12:10 p.m.

"Our Unfinished March": A Conversation with Eric Holder
Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

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

Have You Joined Lawlink?

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

Themis Bar Review Scholarship

Apply by Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. CST. For students going into public interest, government, or a clerkship.

CLS Funding Resource

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