From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: February 9, 2023
Subject: Grads on Public Interest Firms, World Bank Info Session, and More


Events and Programs

SJI Monday: Grads on Public Interest/Civil Rights Law Firms—Virtual

Monday, Feb. 13, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
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. They will share how they selected their firm and make recommendations for students interested in public interest/civil rights firms.

World Bank Info Session—Virtual

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Register

Join SJI adviser Kerry McLean and three lawyers from the World Bank for a conversation about careers at the World Bank. 

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. 

Feb. 15: Impact Litigation
Feb. 23: Gender Justice in Government
Mar. 9: Human Rights

Registration is full, but you can still sign up for the waitlist!

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.)
 

Upcoming Deadlines

Postgraduate Fellowships

Mar. 1: Leebron (LL.M.s), Global Public Service, Haas
Mar. 13: LL.M. 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

Chaula Shukla
1Ls

Full staff list and bios
News and Notes

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)
Internship with Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York. Due Mar. 17.

Crawford Murray Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Diversity Fellowship (1Ls)
Fellowship in the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court. Due Mar. 20.

Equal Justice Summer Fellowship (1Ls, 2Ls)
Must secure a placement at a civil legal services organization. Due Mar. 23.

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


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

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)

Animal Law Litigation: A Discussion with Kathy Meyers
Feb. 15, 12:10 p.m.

Book Talk: Advice to Thrive By: How to Use Your Résumé and Cover Letter to Build Your Brand and Launch a Dynamic Public Interest Career
Feb. 16, 4:30 p.m.

2023 Paul Robeson Conference | A Conversation with Eric Holder
Feb. 17, 6 p.m.

2023 Paul Robeson Conference | Black Politics & American Democracy
Feb. 18, 9 a.m.

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

Columbia Outlaws Event: Queer and Trans Folks in the Criminal Legal System
Feb. 22, 12:10 p.m., JG 107

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