From: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers
Date: October 13, 2022
Subject: Being a Federal Civil Rights Lawyer, Public Defense Session, and More


Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School
Events and Programs

Today! SJI Monday:
Being a Civil Rights Lawyer in the Federal Government

Monday, Oct. 17, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 101
Register

David Kennedy and Ellen Blain are co-chiefs of the Civil Rights Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. They have prosecuted landmark cases in fair housing, carceral reform, employment discrimination, accessibility, religious discrimination, and abuse by law enforcement. Hear them talk substantively about their work and career trajectories. Lunch will be provided.

SPIN/SJI Public Interest Lawyering Series: Public Defense

Tuesday, Oct. 18, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
JG 103
Register

In this installment of the Public Interest Lawyering Series, practitioners in public defense will share about their career paths, employers, and day-to-day practice. With CLS Public Defender Students (PDS). Lunch will be provided.

SJI Monday:
Careers in Human Rights—Virtual

Monday, Oct. 24, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
WJW 309
Register

Join speakers from NGOs and international organizations for a conversation about careers in human rights, their own career paths, and their advice for launching your career in human rights. 

Coming Up at SJI

Events are 12:10-1:10 p.m. unless otherwise indicated
 

SJI Mondays Series

 

SPIN/SJI Public Interest Lawyering Series

 

Money Matters Series

Save the Dates!

 

1L Public Defense Hiring Featuring BIPOC Perspectives

With EWOC and PDS

Tuesday, Oct.25, 12:10 p.m.
JG102A
 

Communities of Change:

A Reception for BIPOC Students and Alumni in Public Interest

Thursday, Nov. 10, 6-8 p.m.
Location TBD

1L Mandatories

  • You must complete all mandatory items on your checklist by Dec. 8.
  • To meet with an adviser, you must complete the Job Search Strategies and Resume Training Modules. Once you have completed both modules, you may make an appointment on Symplicity.
  • For the Interviewing Webinar, you can choose to watch the government or general public interest video.
Questions? Visit the 1L Professional Pathways page or contact Chaula Shukla, assistant director of 1L professional development advising.
Upcoming Deadlines
A non-exhaustive list of upcoming student deadlines

Postgraduate Fellowships

Oct. 28: Norton Rose/The Door
Nov. 1: Singer Social Justice
Nov. 15: Texas Defender Services Manne Family
Dec. 4: Millstein Financial Regulation
Dec. 4: Millstein Government Service

1L Mandatories

Dec. 8: Deadline to complete mandatory items on checklist

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! Social Justice Mini-Grant Program

Win funding for innovative ideas to address social injustices. Due Nov. 7.

Postgraduate Fellowship Corner


New Fellowship

Norton Rose Fulbright Fellowship at The Door (J.D.s)
Work at The Door for approximately 16 months. Fellows are Norton Rose Fulbright associates and receive firm benefits. Due Oct. 28.
 

Select Deadlines

Singer Social Justice Fellowship (J.D.s)
Due Nov. 1

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

Millstein Financial Regulation (J.D.s)
Due Dec. 4

Millstein Government Service (J.D.s)
Due Dec. 4

Haas Public Service (J.D.s, LL.M.s)
Due Mar. 1
 

Resources

Sign up for Joel Dodge's fellowship emails for LL.M.s and 3Ls

Intro to Postgraduate Fellowships (Video)

Organization-Based Fellowship Tracker

Also @ Columbia (and Beyond)

Public Interest Employer Info Sessions

  • Oct. 18: Lawyers for Children
  • Nov. 3: Center for Family Representation, Legal Services Hudson Valley

Family Defense Clinic Info Session (Zoom)
Oct.18, 12:10 p.m.

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

Economic Abuse in the Domestic Violence Context
Oct. 20, 12:10 p.m.

Saving Democracy
All times and locations TBA

  • Oct. 25: Packing, Cracking, & Stacking
  • Oct. 26: Fighting for the Right to Vote
  • Date TBA: Midterms 2022: After Action Report and Locked Up &
  • Locked Out of Democracy


Peggy Browning Fund Lunchtime Panel on Workplace Justice
Nov. 2, 12:10 p.m.

Interested in Reform-Minded Prosecution?


Reform-Minded Prosecution Symposium with Fair and Just Prosecution
Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
A symposium focused on the reform of the prosecutorial system and innovations in the criminal justice process. RSVP or visit livestream link.

Fair and Just Prosecution Panel at NYU Law
Nov. 14, 12:30 p.m.
With prosecutors from across the country and Fair and Just Prosecution's Miriam Krinsky. More info to follow.
 

Resources on the Supreme Court

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

Funding Resources

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

Themis Bar Review Scholarship: for students going into public interest, government, or a clerkship. Apply by Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.
 

Have You Joined Lawlink?

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