What PIP recipients are doing
Last year, PIP provided grants to nearly one third of the 1L class. PIP grants allowed students to participate in public interest work in many capacities including:
- Working for prosecutors, public defenders and U.S. attorneys.
- Counseling low-income families dealing with divorce, custody arrangements, medical disabilities, and job loss.
- Advising homeowners facing foreclosure and tenants being evicted from foreclosed properties.
- Advocating for improved civil rights in China and India.
Testimonials from 2008 PIP Grant Recipients:
"I am working in the Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Council Services (CPCS) at the Boston Superior Court. CPCS is a government committee that represents indigent clients charged with criminal offenses. During a typical day, I spend the majority of my time working on criminal defense research projects, observing court proceedings, and drafting motions or memoranda. I chose to work at CPCS after my first year because I wanted an internship that would provide both hands-on experience and practical knowledge of the legal system. I have really enjoyed my experience at CPCS and believe my internship has provided me with skills I can use to benefit others in my professional career. I never thought criminal law was the right career path for my, but, after my summer at CPCS, I will definitely be re-evaluating that decision."
Lindsey Gil, Committee for Public Counsel Services, Public Defender Division
"International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to ensuring the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in developing and transition countries. Specifically, IBJ works to guarantee all citizens the right to competent legal representation, the right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment and the right to a fair trial. IBJ has just expanded to India, and, in conjunction with the capital's cities government authority, IBJ and Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA), are setting up a training program for public interest lawyers to give them the proper skills to competently defend those who need their assistance. This summer my responsibilities included meeting with DLSA to ensure their support, designing sponsorship packages, creating an Indian Intern program, devising a training program for the conference, coordinating the event logistics and researching Indian law to create a public defender's toolkit for conference participants. Further, I have been in direct communication with our NGO office headquarters in Switzerland and trainers from the United States to organize an efficient, effective, and interactive program.
I am not sure what I want to do for my post-law school career, but I know that I want it to be internationally orientated, so this job was a great fit. I may end up doing international human rights or international business at first, but, ultimately, I think I'd like to end up in an international sector of the federal government. Working in collaboration with a government agency and an NGO this summer gave me a great foundation for my future career. Moreover, my summer experience made me realize that the right to legal representation makes a huge difference in the lives of the accused, and I want to continue to promote those rights worldwide even after my internship ends."
Anuj Khetarpal, International Bridges of Justice
"I’m working for the Law and Policy Section (LPS) of the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice. It’s a particularly interesting internship because I get to do both legal and policy work. My assignments consist of anything from researching for an Assistant Attorney General’s report to writing memos for attorneys working on complex litigation cases to attending congressional hearings. A large part of the reason I decided to work for LPS was the breadth of types of legal work I would be exposed to…So far it’s been a great experience with substantive work and I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer."
Nina Tandon, US Department of Justice
"I work in the Elderly Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services. GBLS provides legal assistance to low-income individuals. The Elderly Unit, specifically, works with senior citizens aged 60 years and older. The unit assists elders in a wide variety of practice areas, including housing, benefits, defense against guardianships and conservatorships, elder abuse, nursing home issues, etc. On a typical workday, I speak to clients about their legal problems, contact regulatory agencies and other opposing parties, research legal issues and consult and strategize with my supervisor regarding those issues. I was attracted to this work primarily because of the opportunity for client contact and because I wanted to further develop my interest in public interest law."
Noreen Stackhouse, Greater Boston Legal Services