GW Law School Fall 2003
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Pro Bono Program Assists D.C. Animal Welfare | Equal Justice Foundation Plans Spring Events | Successful Public Interest Campaign Will be Renewed


Public Interest Corner

Pro Bono Program Assists D.C. Animal Welfare

GW’s Pro Bono Program encourages students to provide volunteer legal assistance during their time in law school. The program does so, in large part, by promoting a wide array of opportunities for students to work with outside organizations and provide service to them and their constituents. This year, the Law School added a new dimension to the program: an in-house law reform project. The hope is that, each year, student participants will identify a local program, agency, or problem that they will study and evaluate. The students will analyze the laws that govern the issue and, then, operating like a team of investigative reporters, make first-hand assessments by observing operations and interviewing knowledgeable persons. The ultimate goal will be to develop and issue a public report and to propose and lobby appropriate authorities to adopt reforms or changes.

This fall, under the leadership of Professors Mary Cheh and Joan Schaffner, the Pro Bono Program kicked off its first reform project: “Animal Welfare in the District of Columbia.” Students will survey the spectrum of legal rules affecting the treatment and mistreatment of animals in Washington, D.C. More than 30 students attended the initial organizational meeting in September, and many more signed on during the program’s annual Pro Bono Fair in October.


Equal Justice Foundation Plans Spring Events

photoThe Equal Justice Foundation is a student organization committed to promoting public interest lawyering and community service activities among current law students and alumni. This spring, EJF once again is holding its annual auction to benefit students who provide unpaid public interest legal services during the summer. This auction (typically held in early April) is an annual favorite at the Law School, drawing large crowds to bid on fabulous donations from alumni, faculty members, and the Washington community. Last year’s auction raised more than $26,000. EJF hopes to broaden this year’s auction to include a reception and silent auction specifically for alumni attendees. Please contact Alison Levin at alevin@law.gwu.edu or Maggie Gandy at mgandy@law.gwu.edu for more information or to become an auction sponsor.

In addition to its annual auction, EJF hopes to sponsor a 5K walk/run in the spring that will include students, faculty members, alumni, and the Washington community. This event would help support the Law School’s Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program, which is designed to help relieve the financial burdens of qualifying recent graduates (1990 and later) who pursue public interest employment. Please contact Jocelyn Stotts at jstotts@law.gwu.edu or Logan Hambrick at lhambrick@law.gwu.edu for more information about the 5K walk/run.


Successful Public Interest Campaign Will be Renewed

Last year, the Law School embarked on a special fundraising campaign to benefit its public interest programs. The campaign, which focused on the Law School classes of 1990 through 2001, was a tremendous success, raising nearly double the amount of money that had been donated by these same classes during the previous year. Law students provided integral assistance by taking part in a phone campaign for this effort. With the Dean’s “dollar for dollar” match, approximately $75,000 will be directed toward the summer public interest subsidies, the Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program, and the Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics. For more information regarding this year’s public interest campaign, please contact the Law School Office of Advancement at (202) 994-6117.


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