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New York, May 20, 2009 —
Columbia Law School announced today the creation of the Social Justice Pathways Fellowships, strengthening its support for graduates pursuing careers in public interest law and government service. Each of the fellowships will carry a $25,000 stipend to fund up to eight months of work. The members of the J.D. Class of 2009 are the first to be eligible to apply to this highly selective program.
“These fellowships serve two important purposes,” said David M. Schizer, Dean and the Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law. “First, they allow qualified graduates committed to a career in public interest law to gain the experience and skills necessary to get a full-time job in these fields; and second, they provide talented young lawyers to organizations that are confronting great demand and diminished resources.”
The new Social Justice Pathways Fellowships will be awarded to five graduates in the J.D. Class of 2009, presently unemployed, who seek job opportunities in public interest or government law offices. The Social Justice Program, directed by Dean Ellen Chapnick, will work with applicants to identify not-for-profit organizations or government agencies that would be a good match. Priority will be given to organizations that agree to provide summer internships and pro bono opportunities to current Columbia Law School students. The Social Justice Program will also administer the application process.
“A commitment to service is one of Columbia Law School’s core values,” Dean Chapnick said. “There is no single path for students who wish to practice law in the public interest. These fellowships will allow our graduates to obtain diverse social justice positions that put their Columbia Law School education to immediate use.”
The fellowships are the newest additions to the Law School’s scholarship and fellowship programs, some of which offer the equivalent of full tuition to students committed to social justice work. They also bolster the many initiatives the Law School has taken to assist students interested in public interest and government work. Recent enhancements have included the Guaranteed Summer Funding Program, which provides summer stipends to all J.D. students in human rights, public interest, or government work.
The Law School also significantly strengthened its Loan Repayment Assistance Program in 2008, which assists students in the repayment of their educational loans secured for law school.
“This program provides graduates with real opportunities to practice the kind of law that strengthens society and improves the world in which we live,” said Dean Schizer. “I can’t think of more fulfilling or meaningful work.”
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