From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: February 10, 2022
Subject: Grads on Public Interest Law Firms, Is EIP for Me, and More


Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School
Headshot of Kiran Singh. She is standing outside against a backdrop of greenery and smiling.

Meet SJI: Kiran Singh

"It’s important for students to have a space where they can think through their decisions for the future without feeling pressured to take a certain job." Learn more about Senior Career Adviser Kiran Singh, what she does at SJI, and her alternate dream job.
Events and Programs

Grads on Public Interest/Civil Rights Law Firms

February 17, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Register

Graduates at "public interest/civil rights/plaintiff's side" law firms will discuss the reasons they chose a private firm to pursue public interest work. Graduates will discuss how they selected their firm, what their prior experiences were, and make recommendations to students who wish to intern or work at a public interest/civil rights law firm. Panelists include:

  • Chloe Bootstaylor '19, associate, Cohen Milstein
  • Sherie Buell '14, associate, Bantle & Levy
  • Sam Braver '21, law fellow, Bredhoff & Kaiser
  • Julian Clark, Cochran Fellow, Neufeld Scheck & Brustin

Save the Date:
Is EIP for Me If I’m a Public Interest Student?

February 22, 12:10-1:10 p.m.

The registration link will be available shortly.

Add Yourself to OCI (1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls)

The Virtual On-Campus Interview Program has started, but some participating employers still have open spots on their schedule. Check Symplicity for employers, dates, and instructions.

Upcoming Deadlines
A non-exhaustive list of upcoming student deadlines
 

Postgraduate Fellowships

Mar 1: Leebron (LL.M.s only), Global Public Service, Haas
Mar 14: LL.M. Pathways
 

Other

Feb. 25: 2L Racial and Social Justice Fellowships
Mar. 1: 3L Deadline to complete and register pro bono hours on Lawnet

SJI Is Here for You

Make an advising appointment

Joel Dodge
Postgraduate Fellowships, Public Interest Lawyering

Solmaz Firoz
1Ls, LL.M.s, Public Defense

Kerry McLean
Human Rights, Public International Law, HRIP

Tory Messina
Career Transitions, LRAP, Public Interest Law Firms

Nadine Mompremier
Pro Bono, Summer Funding

Devi Patel
PI/PS Fellows

Chaula Shukla
1Ls

Kiran Singh
Government

Full staff list and bios
News and Notes

New! Trans/Nonbinary Law Graduates of Color Grant Fund

The Trans/Nonbinary Law Graduates of Color Grant Fund will award three $1,000 grants to help offset the costs associated with the period of time between graduation and taking the Bar Exam/employment, plus free National LGBTQ+ Bar Association membership. Read the criteria and apply by 4/1.
 

Job Alert: Human Rights Book Project

Professor Sarah Knuckey, Director of the Columbia Law School Human Rights Clinic and Human Rights Institute, seeks paid Research Assistants starting immediately and to work through spring 2022. RAs will work closely with Professor Knuckey on a book about human rights advocacy, inequality among NGOs, and decolonization. Please send a short email explaining your interest and hours availability and a CV to sk3946@columbia.edu.

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner


Select Deadlines

Leebron: 3/1 for LL.M.s.
Human rights in the U.S. or abroad

Global Public Service: 3/1
Public interest or intergovernmental work; Asia-based hosts preferred (J.D., LL.M.)

Haas: 3/1
For students from China to work short-term in U.S. public interest  (J.D., LL.M.)

LL.M. Pathways: 3/14
Ten to 52 weeks in public interest, government, or human rights
 

Video: Introduction to Postgraduate Fellowship Opportunities

Postgraduate fellowships serve as one of the main entry points into a public interest or public service career, and there are many of them! For 2Ls thinking about public interest positions that will begin in fall 2023, as well as 3Ls who will seek a fellowship following a clerkship, it's time to understand the fellowship landscape and begin your planning.
 

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

1Ls: Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholars 

Deadline Is Rolling

Spend 1L summer doing pro bono work at the organization of your choice and 2L summer as an associate at the firm. More

Other Funding
 

2L Racial and Social Justice Fellowships

Funding for 2Ls who intend to pursue racial justice legal work after graduation and/or 2Ls who are from racially underrepresented groups and intend to pursue other social justice legal work after graduation. Fellows receive their funding in the fall of their 3L year. Deadline: 2/25
 

3L Bridge Loan

LRAP-eligible loan($10,000 max.) for public interest 3Ls for bar course registration and other postgraduate living expenses. Deadline: 5/13

Connect with the Public Interest/Public Service Council

The council is a large group of senior alumni who are experts and leaders (past and present) in the public interest and government sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad. Students interested in connecting with a council member should email SJI Dean Erica Smock.

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