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Columbia Outlaws Event: Queer and Trans Folks in the Criminal Legal System

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 107

A discussion with attorneys and organizers working to end the criminalization and over-incarceration of LGBTQ+ people. Lunch will be served.

For 1Ls and 2Ls: Public Interest Dine & Learn with Grads

Meet graduates in public interest, public service, or human rights. Over dinner at a local restaurant, learn about their work, their lives, and the paths they took along the way.

Thursday, Feb. 23: Gender Justice in Government
Thursday, Mar. 9: Human Rights

Register now. Space is limited, but we are maintaining a waitlist!

SJI Monday: Careers in National Security

Monday, Feb. 27, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Zoom
Register

Hear from two practitioners working on national security issues in the federal government. Andrew Beaty works for the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. Kathleen Cochrane works in the International Affairs Office at the U.S. Department of Treasury, where her portfolio includes evaluating cross-border transactions for national security risks.

Lunch will be provided, with vegan and gluten-free options included. Please register in advance so we know how much food to order. If you have other dietary restrictions, email ev2494@columbia.edu at least five business days in advance.

Coming Up at SJI...

NEW! Public Defense Brown Bag Lunch Series

Learn more about working in public defense at this virtual brown bag lunch series with public defender offices from across the country. Chat with public defenders about their career paths, what their workdays look like, and all aspects of their specific offices, including training, culture, and hiring. Registration

Mar. 3:
Defender Association of Philadelphia
Alameda County Public Defenders

Mar. 10:
Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

Apr. 14:
King County Department of Public Defense
Colorado State Public Defender

Other Upcoming Events

Intro to Postgraduate Fellowships, Feb. 28
JAG Visit, Mar. 3
SJI Monday: Is EIP for Me?, Mar. 6

CLS Parole Advocacy Project Fundraiser:
Mr. Johnson's Return Home

Emma Alzner and Priyanka Radhakrishnan of the Parole Advocacy Project are raising money to help a client who was just granted parole after more than 20 years in prison. Learn more about their client, Mr. Johnson, and help support him as he returns home!

Get Financial Coaching

Ongoing Through Friday, Mar. 17
Sign up via the CLS coaching link or directly with Mary Bechler

Schedule a one-on-one financial coaching phone call with Financial Counselor Mary Bechler of AccessLex. Discuss credit card debt, budgeting for now and for the future, LRAP's place in your bigger financial picture, and more. (Specific LRAP questions should still go to LRAP@law.columbia.edu.)

Postgraduate Fellowships

Mar. 1: Leebron (LL.M.s), Global Public Service, Haas
Mar. 13: LL.M. Pathways
May 2: J.D. Pathways

Pro Bono

Mar. 1: Deadline for 3Ls to complete and register their pro bono hours

Other

Feb. 27: 2L Racial and Social Justice Fellowships
May 12: Public Service Bridge Loan

SJI Is Here for You

Make an advising appointment on Symplicity

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

Hasan Shafiqullah
Direct Services, Immigration, Housing, Welfare Benefits, LGBTQ+ Advocacy

Chaula Shukla
1Ls

Full staff list and bios

New SJI Adviser

Please welcome Hasan Shafiqullah! Hasan specializes in direct services, immigration, housing, welfare benefits, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Learn more about Hasan.

You can make an appointment with him on Symplicity or via email at hs3395@columbia.edu.

NEW! J.D. Pathways Work at a qualifying host in the U.S. or abroad for one year. Due May 2.

Select Deadlines
Download applications

Leebron:
J.D.s Feb. 7, LL.M.s Mar. 1

Global Public Service, Haas:
Mar. 1

LL.M. Pathways:
Mar. 13

Resources

Sign up for fellowship emails for LL.M.s, 3Ls

Intro to Fellowships (Video)

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

Summer Jobs/Funding for J.D.s

Spring OCI
There are public sector employers with openings in their interview schedules. Please check the OCI module in Symplicity and refer to emails from Career Services for instructions.

Summer Internships/Funding
Brieant Fellowship (1Ls, 2Ls)
Judicial internship. Due Mar. 17.

Crawford Murray Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Diversity Fellowship (1Ls)
Due Mar. 20.

Equal Justice Summer Fellowship (1Ls, 2Ls)
Funds civil legal services internship. Due Mar. 23.

Other Funding
Meyer Scholarship (2Ls)
For legal writing and advocacy skills. Due Apr. 7.

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)

LCI: Kristin Henning's Rage Against Innocence
Feb. 20, 12:10 p.m.

The Constitution and Political Economy
Mar. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Careers in Law Teaching Spring Workshop Series
Held on Wednesdays through the end of March

Check out our revamped job search tools page!

Funding

CLS Funding Resources
Internal and external funding available to and/or specifically for CLS students.

3L Bridge Loan
Receive assistance with the costs of bar registration, bar prep, and living expenses. Requires demonstrated commitment to public interest/public service. Due May 12.

Racial and Social Justice Fellowships
Five fellowships of $25,000 for 2Ls who intend to pursue racial justice work after graduation or are from racially underrepresented groups and will pursue other social justice work. Due Feb. 27.

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