From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: September 8, 2022
Subject: The SCOTUS Impact, 1L Mandatory, and More


Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School

Today! SJI Monday:
The SCOTUS Impact—On the Ground & In Practice

Monday, September 12, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
WJW First Floor Feldberg Space

The last Supreme Court term handed down several monumental decisions affecting reproductive rights, gun safety, and more. Join alumni and practitioners in these fields to hear about these decisions, their impacts, and how advocates are charting a way forward to make change. Lunch will be provided.

1L Mandatory Job Search Session

Tuesday, September 13, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG First Floor (Check your inbox for room assignment)

Social Justice Initiatives (SJI), Office of Career Services (OCS), and Office of Judicial Clerkships (OJC) will present on how to navigate the process of searching for a summer job. Lunch will be provided.
 
Mandatory for all 1Ls: you must attend in order to schedule an advising appointment with any career office. 

State Department Info Session (Virtual)

Wednesday, September 14, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Zoom Registration
Learn about internships and postgraduate opportunities, as well as term-time opportunities through the DC Externship, with the U.S. Department of State. Alex Hogan, SJI’s director of government programs, will be joined by state department attorney Gene Smilansky.

Pro Bono Information Session

Wednesday, September 14, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 546
Learn about the importance of pro bono in providing access to justice and in the lives of lawyers in both the private and public sectors. We will cover New York's 50-hour requirement, Columbia's pro bono graduation requirement for J.D.s, and available pro bono opportunities. Lunch will be provided.

Human Rights at Columbia Law School

Wednesday, September 14, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 104
Hear from faculty, staff, students, and alumni on how and why to get involved in human rights at the Law School. Hosted by the Human Rights Institute (HRI) and SJI.

Public Interest Employer Info Sessions for Law Students

Nineteen employers are holding virtual information sessions between now and early November. This week:
  • Bronx DA: September 14, 5:30 p.m.
  • NYS Homes and Community Renewal: September 16, 11 a.m.
Full schedule and session links

Upcoming Public Interest Fellowships for J.D.s

Thursday, September 15, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
WJW 416
J.D.s, learn about postgraduate fellowships with application deadlines coming up over the next several months. Alumni fellowship recipients and fellowship representatives will explain how their fellowships work and answer your questions. Lunch will be provided.

SJI Monday:
Environmental Justice as Social Justice

Monday, September 19, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Location TBA
Attorneys from Earthjustice will discuss their work, current issues in environmental law and justice, how the practice of environmental justice intersects with other social justice issues, and how you can support environmental justice work now. Lunch will be provided.

Save the Dates!

Info Session: Sandler Human Rights Watch Fellowship (J.D.s)
September 20, 12:10 p.m.

Mandatory Spring Break Caravan Planning Meeting for Student Leaders
September 22, 12:10 p.m.

A non-exhaustive list of upcoming student deadlines

Postgraduate Fellowships

October 10: Sandler Human Rights Watch

Other

September 15, 6 p.m.: Deadline to apply for interviews at the EJW Career Fair

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

Through the Gale:

A Podcast on Lawyering, Freedom, and Democracy 

How are lawyers responding to the changes wrought by the racial uprisings of 2020, the pandemic, and January 6? Check out this new podcast by Columbia Law School professors, students, and grads. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher.

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)
 

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) “Meet and Greet”
September 12, 8:30 a.m.

NJ Attorney General Honors Program Webinar
September 12, 5 p.m.

EJW Career Fair (Virtual)
September 22-23
Deadline to apply to interview with employers: September 15, 6 p.m.

Funding and Resources


NYS Bar Foundation Scholarships

Local & State Government Law Section: Carol Van Scoyoc Scholarship
2Ls and 3Ls
Deadline: October 28

Real Property Law Section: Lorraine Power Tharp Scholarship
2Ls and 3Ls
Deadline: November 18

Diversity Summer Fellowship in Health Law 
1Ls, 2Ls
Deadline: December 5
 

Columbia Law School Funding Resource

Spreadsheet of internal and external funding opportunities (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, summer funding, grants, and loans) available to and/or specifically for Columbia Law School students. Not exhaustive; updated periodically.

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner


Interested in Postgraduate Fellowships?

Sign up for Joel Dodge's fellowship emails.
 

Select Deadlines

Equal Justice Works Fellowship
Create a fellowship project or can apply to join an established fellowship program dedicated to serving a specific population or addressing an unmet legal need. Open to J.D.s and LL.M.s. Due September 13.

Sandler Fellowship at Human Rights Watch
One year in either the New York or DC office. Open to J.Ds. Due October 10.

Resources

Introduction to Postgraduate Fellowships (Video)

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

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