Congrats to our Summer Public Interest Fellows!

Hi everyone!

For my first blog, I would like to share some great news with all of you.

First, we would like to extend our THANKS to all applicants, faculty readers, BPILP, the Dean's Office, and the Development Office for all their hard work in making this year's fellowship selection process such a success!! This year there were close to 30 applications and the overall quality of this year's applications was again outstanding!

The 13th Annual BPILP Auction held earlier this year was the most successful ever as BPILP raised nearly $34,000 to be used towards providing UB Law School students the opportunity to accept unpaid public service summer positions.

Through the combined dedication and support of Dean Makau Mutua, the UB Law Alumni Association, the Student Bar Association, the Domestic Violence Task Force, our very generous alumni and fellow student donors -- who continue to be committed to public interest law -- and the remarkable leadership and members of BPILP, 20 projects in total will receive funding this summer! In addition, to date we have been notified of 3 terrific students who were awarded national fellowships.

Please join us in congratulating this year's Summer Public Interest Fellows:

Dean's Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Fellows
Linda Benedict ’09 - Gulfcoast Legal Service - St. Petersburg, FL
Joshua Pennel ’10 - US Attorney's Office, Western District of NY - Buffalo, NY
Claire Sellers ’10 - Volunteer Lawyers Project - Buffalo, NY
Heather Strachan ’10 - Volunteer Lawyers Project - Buffalo, NY

UB Law Alumni Association's Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Fellows
Demian Fernandez ’10 - Human Rights Department, Central University of Santiago Law School -Santiago, Chile
Gurjot Kaur ’10 - Lawyers for Human Rights - Johannesburg, South Africa

Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Fellows
Joshua Agins ’10 – Rochester Legal Aid Society, Law Students in Action Project – Rochester, NY
Gregory Colavecchi ’10 – Monroe County Legal Assistance Center, Law Students in Action Project – Rochester, NY
Jesslyn Holbrook ’10 - US Attorney's Office, Western District of NY - Buffalo, NY
Scott Iseman ’10 - US Attorney's Office, Northern District of NY - Albany, NY
Kathleen Moriarty ’10 - Buffalo ReUse - Buffalo, NY
Neil Pawlowski ’10 - US Attorney's Office, Northern District of NY - Syracuse, NY
Kristen Schaub ’10 - NYS Division of Human Rights - Buffalo, NY
Ashley Westbrook ’10 – Farmworkers Legal Services, Law Students in Action Project – Rochester, NY
Jawziya Zaman ’10 - Legal Resource Center - Cape Town, South Africa

Buffalo Public Interest Law Program / Student Bar Association Fellow
Andrew Stimson ’10 - Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo - Buffalo, NY

Buffalo Public Interest Law Program / Student Bar Association Grant Recipient
Geoffrey Hale ’09 – Empire Justice Center, Law Students in Action Project – Rochester, NY

Buffalo Public Interest Law Program / Domestic Violence Task Force Grant Recipient
Nola Cornett ’10 – Volunteer Lawyers Project, Haven House Domestic Violence Legal Clinic – Buffalo, NY

Kaplan & Reynolds Fellows
Rachel Marrero ’10 - Neighborhood Legal Services, Family Law Unit, Grandparent Advocacy Project - Buffalo, NY
Stefanie Svoren ’09 - Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Domestic Security Section –Washington DC

Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest (LSPIN) Fellowship Grant Recipients
Jeffrey Colt ’10 – Sanctuary for Families, Bronx Division – Bronx, NY
Elena Steigman ’10 – Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. – New York, NY

Equal Justice Works Summer Corps Program Member
Ashley Westbrook ’10 – Farmworkers Legal Services, Law Students in Action Project –Rochester, NY

Finally, Federal Loan Forgiveness!!

“We must make the choices that enable us to fulfill the deepest capacities of our real selves.” ~Thomas Merton

For professionals and students heading into not-for-profit or government jobs, one of the most exciting developments ever to happen in educational legislation was the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), signed into law in September 2007. Basically, it ensures a manageable income-sensitive repayment schedule and a full FORGIVENESS of the balance after 10 years (or 120 payments) in a public interest, government or not-for-profit job (defined in the act). Note, these need not be just law-related, but ANY, including teaching, law-enforcement, social work, you name it.

The details are complicated, and still have some wrinkles; the final forgiveness is still a taxable event until lobbyists get their way in the form of an amendment. But if you anticipate being in public service for the next ten years, it is an amazing deal. For more information, see the following links.

UB Law Links Article
Equal Justice Works Resource Site
Law Review Article by Georgetown Professor Philip Schrag
IBR Info: A non-profit information resource regarding the CCRAA

The Federal Direct Consolidation loan application is here.

Just another great tool to help you on your way to your dream job!