Success

Auction Day was a success!!!!  We are so appreciative to everyone who participated by either coming to the events this past week or giving a charitable donation.  The Equal Justice Foundation raised over $10,000 in ONE DAY to help fund Georgetown Law students engaged in public interest work this summer.  We couldn't be more proud. 

EJF Silent Auction

The Equal Justice Foundation Silent Auction is now LiVE!!! Just follow the link http://www.32auctions.com/EJF2015 at anytime to see the prizes and place your bids!  There are over 30 amazing prizes so be sure to place your bids before the auction closes at 7pm on January 29th just in time for this year's Live Auction in Hart Auditorium

Alumni Event

The Equal Justice Foundation, in partnership with RAAC, is hosting an exclusive auction for recent alumni before the annual EJF auction on January 29th. Alumni may bid on one-on-one time with their favorite professors, have an opportunity to access EJF's silent auction, all while enjoying delicious hors d'oeuvres and drinks. 

Afterwards, they can relive their glory days and stay for the live auction in Hart Auditorium. 

Road to Criminal Law

This past summer I had the pleasure of working for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. I worked out of the Charlotte office and had the opportunity to participate in some really interesting cases, including a narcotics and bank fraud trial. The United States Attorney’s Office provided me with meaningful legal research and writing experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my legal career. For example, I wrote my own 4th Circuit brief and was given time sensitive legal research projects regarding jury instructions for several trials.

While I entered law school with an eye toward the private sector, my summer experience exposed my interest in criminal work and has led me to believe I am interested in working for a government agency such as the US Attorney’s Office down the road. This experience and knowledge would not have been possible without the help of EJF. Because most government internship opportunities are unpaid, the financial realities of being a law student would have made it difficult for me to accept the internship and gain this meaningful experience. The knowledge that I would be receiving a stipend to assist with my summer living expenses encouraged me to accept an internship in Charlotte.

Thank you EJF and keep up the good work!

-- Drew Newman

Helping the Homeless

Last summer I had the privilege of working at the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty thanks to the Equal Justice Foundation summer funding.  Before coming to law school, I knew that I wanted to get experience working with legal organizations dedicated to social justice issues, and the EJF summer funding allowed me to do just that. I chose to complete an unpaid internship at NLCHP this summer because I am passionate about issues facing people living in poverty and suffering from homelessness.

At NLCHP, I joined an amazing group of attorneys in their pursuit to end homelessness in the United States. NLCHP focuses on the criminalization of homelessness, housing, and youth and education. I chose NLCHP because it is an organization that understands the complex nature of homelessness and that no one approach can help solve the problem. As such, NLCHP uses direct advocacy, policy work, and impact litigation to create a comprehensive and effective program. No other organization in the country has such a program, and I wanted to be a part of it.

As a legal intern, I was responsible for helping attorneys edit and research portions of No Safe Place: the Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities, speak with advocates, local advocacy groups, and politicians about homeless bills of rights, and attend litigation strategy meetings for a case that challenged Wisconsin’s voting ID law. Each day I had the opportunity to learn more about an issue I am passionate about, gain valuable organizing and writing skills, and help the country end homelessness.

I will never forget my experience at NLCHP, and I have EJF to thank for it. Two weeks before finals, and a month before I started my internship at NLCHP, I had to have foot surgery and was unable to put any weight on my left foot for three and a half months. Without EJF’s summer funding, I would not have been able to afford paying my rent, medical bills, and transportationcosts to and from the office. The EJF funding was absolutely invaluable. I really don’t know what I would have done without it.

EJF’s summer funding allowed me to complete my unpaid internship at NLCHP, and I am forever grateful.

-- Gene Sowa