PUBLIC
INTEREST LAW FELLOWSHIPS
General Information
2008 Application
NOTICE: This year, PILA will offer one "Late Applicant Fellowship." While the majority of the Fellowships will be awarded subject to the usual timeline (chosen by the Honors Day Luncheon), we will reserve one Fellowship for a late applicant. We are aware of the difficulties that public interest organizations have in making definite job offers for summer by early April. Therefore, one Fellowship will be awarded by May 15 in order to avoid precluding students who receive late offers from the Fellowship process.
What is the P.I.L.A. Fellowship?
The P.I.L.A. fellowship is a financial grant awarded to
a law student to work in an unpaid public interest law position during
the summer. The amount and number of fellowships awarded depend upon the
funds raised by the Annual P.I.L.A. Auction. In 2007, we awarded scholarships to seven
students.
What Qualifies as a Public Interest Law Job?
The field is quite broad and covers almost any type of
work that helps the public/community at large. Preferential consideration
will be given to jobs that provide legal help to typically underserved
segments of the population such as the poor, the elderly, etc. In the
past, recipients have worked with the Georgia Innocence Project, the Georgia
Center for Law in Public Interest, the ACLU, Atlanta Legal Aid, Public
Defenders, Environmental Law Groups, Homeless Law Clinics, etc. Students
may want to refer to www.equaljusticeworks.org, and www.pslawnet.org,
for current information on public service opportunities throughout the
country. To use Equal Justice Works, the password is equal2004. To use
PSLawNet, students must register on the website. Registration is free.
Who May Apply for a P.I.L.A. Fellowship?
Any student currently enrolled at the Georgia State University College
of Law may apply, whether or not s/he is a member of P.I.L.A. Although
some consideration will be given to the applicant's involvement in P.I.L.A.
and public interest activities, membership in P.I.L.A. is not a requirement.
The following are some of the criteria used for the selection of the fellows:
o Demonstration of interest in public law: Why is the applicant interested
in Public Interest Law? Has the applicant worked in Public Interest Law
before? Does s/he intend to work in Public Interest Law after graduating?
o Need of the applicant
o Benefits to the applicant: How will the position contribute to the legal
training and/or professional goals of the applicant?
o Time involved: Will it be a full-time or part-time job?
Full-time: minimum of 300 total hours worked for the summer (average of
30 hrs/week for 10 weeks)
Part-time: minimum of 150 total hours worked for the summer (average of
15 hrs/week for 10 weeks)
o Involvement with P.I.L.A. and other public interest organizations and
activities
o Organization for which the applicant wants to work: What does the organization
do? What are its goals? What segment of the population does the organization
help? Will it provide the applicant with valuable legal training/experience?
P.I.L.A. Fellowship Selection Process:
1. Find an organization that you want to work for and is willing to hire you.
The Career Services Office of GSU’s College of Law is hosting the annual Public Sector Career Fair on Thursday, February 22. This has traditionally been a means by which students have secured a summer position. Alternatively, you may obtain a list of public service employers from the Career Services Office and contact them directly.
Note: Because we recognize that these organizations often cannot or do not hire until closer to the summer, it may be possible to submit an application before the position you are seeking is 100% locked in. If this is your situation, please contact Jen Kampsen at 404-545-0202 or JenKampsen@aol.com to discuss your potential application.
2. Request that the person who will supervise you write a sponsor letter.
Sponsor Letter Requirements:
~Letter must be written on the letterhead of the hiring organization
~Letter must confirm that the organization has offered you an unpaid legal job for the summer.
~Letter must explain the type of work you will be performing.
~Letter must indicate the number of hours you will be expected to work over the summer.
3. Complete the application below and submit per the instructions.
Click Here for 2008 Application
~We are not including an interview as part of this year’s selection process
~Because we are not including an interview this year, it is imperative that you answer each question as fully as possible to allow the Fellowship Committee the best opportunity to assess your application.
4. Submit your (1) Application, (2) Acceptance Agreement, (3) Sponsor letter & (4) Resume.
~Place these three documents in the P.I.L.A. Fellowships folder.
5. Fellowship recipients will be announced at the Honors Breakfast.
~A member of the Fellowship Committee will contact the recipients prior to the Honors Breakfast to notify you to attend.
FOR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT JEN KAMPSEN AT 404-545-0202 OR AT JENKAMPSEN@AOL.COM.
Who Makes the Decision?
A Fellowship Committee comprised of four student members of P.I.L.A. and three faculty members makes the fellowship decisions. The award decisions are final. Alternates will be chosen in the event that a chosen recipient becomes ineligible for the funds. Fellowship awards are announced at the annual Honors Breakfast.
Organizational Fellowships
Organizational fellowships are P.I.L.A. fellowships primarily
funded (part-time or full-time) by other law student organizations. Organizational
fellowships may be granted to students working in an unpaid, summer public
interest position dedicated to the organization's purpose, and may include
the decision of at least one member of the organization that contributed
the funding. Students that apply but are not selected for an organizational
fellowship may still apply and be considered for a general P.I.L.A. fellowship
if all other requirements are met.
PILA fellowships and the GSU Pro Bono Recognition Program
Any summer employment funded by a P.I.L.A. fellowship (part-time
or full-time) will be applicable towards the GSU Pro Bono Recognition
Program.
2007 Fellowship Recipients:
Sarah Basiliere
Nichole Devires
Madison Burnett
Cathryn Ferrigno
Caroline Freeman
Natasha Nankali
Lisa Liang
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