WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) - The following are January's news briefs from Equal Justice Works:
- EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS NAMES TOP 10 DONORS -
The law firm of Greenberg Traurig P.A., the Florida Bar Foundation, and an anonymous contributor lead the list of top 10 donors to Equal Justice Works community lawyering programs. Other major donors include the law firms of Arnold & Porter, Bingham McCutchen LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, Latham & Watkins and Morrison & Foerster Foundation and corporate donor, AT&T Wireless. Since 1998, the Open Society Institute -- the foundation created by financier and philanthropist George Soros -- has underwritten the Equal Justice Works community lawyering fellowship program through multi-million dollar matching grants.
For a list of additional donors, visit http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/donors or contact Barbara Uhler, buhler@equaljusticeworks.org, 202-466-3686.
- PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS MAKE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS -
Compassion, determination, inspiration, enthusiasm and a commitment to public service are the themes of 2003 resolutions made by Equal Justice Works Fellows, AmeriCorps/National Service Legal Corps (NSLC) members and student officers.
"To remain vigilant, determined, focused and driven. We work and speak on behalf of people whose voices are not heard. I vow, through legal channels that are not easily charted, to charge forward to help these voices be heard."Olivia Maristela Rebanal, AmeriCorps Housing Attorney, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Georgia
"To work with battered (victims of domestic violence) immigrants on their immigration petitions." Rebecca Westphal, Fellow, Farmworker Legal Services of Southern Michigan
"Engage my law school student body in volunteering in our communities and encourage (other) students to leave the theoretical mind-space of law school for a few hours a week to benefit the community. If JD candidates cannot be counted on to help (those in need), who can?" Laura Lindley, Student Officer, Southwestern University School of Law '04
"Be it resolved that Equal Justice becomes a reality for our clients through the good Works of our members." Jeff Kastner, Americorps Project Director, Community Legal Services, Phoenix, AZ
Visit http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/participants for more resolutions.
- WHAT DO PUBLIC INTEREST LAW STUDENTS, FEDERAL JUDGES, CORPORATE COUNSELS AND TRIAL ATTORNEYS HAVE IN COMMON? -
Eight newly-elected law student officers will join federal judges, corporate counsels, trial attorneys, partners in major law firms and other law students and recent graduates as members of the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors at the March 2003 meeting.
President Sandra English, Cleveland State University-Cleveland-Marshall College of Law '03; Vice President/Secretary Emily Benfer, Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis '05; Northeast Regional Coordinator Guirlande Zetrenne, Touro College-Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center '05; Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator Lisa Rothwell, Regent University School of Law '04; South Regional Coordinators Eva Howe, University of Houston Law Center '04 and Timothy Moore, University of Miami School of Law '05; Midwest Regional Coordinator, Jonas Walker, University of Minnesota Law School '04; and West Regional Coordinator, Laura Lindley, Southwestern University School of Law '04 were elected at the annual membership council meeting in October 2002 and will serve as both student officers and members of the Equal Justice Works board.
Previously elected student officers now serving are: Immediate Past President Malcolm Reilly, Brooklyn Law School '02; Northeast Regional Coordinator Brooke Meyer, Franklin Pierce Law Center '03; Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator David Ari Collins, Howard University School of Law '03; Midwest Regional Coordinator Erin Karshen, Marquette University Law School '03; and West Regional Coordinator Adam Bult, University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Law '04.
Contact the Equal Justice Works Communications Department or Pamela Schiffleger, Director of Leadership and Career Development, pschiffleger@equaljusticeworks.org, 202-466-3686 ext. 110.
- OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAW STUDENTS AND GRADS TO DO GOOD -
Law students and recent law school graduates interested in pursuing a career in public interest law should explore the summer internship and two-year fellowship opportunities offered by Equal Justice Works. Beginning January 14, 2003, visit http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/find for new listings and more information about Equal Justice Fellows, the largest public interest law fellowship program in the country and the Equal Justice Works Summer Corps, an AmeriCorps-funded summer program that offers educational vouchers for law students who spend their summer in public service internships.
For Fellowships, contact Imoni Washington, iwashington@equaljusticeworks.org, 202-466-3686, ext. 110; for Summer Corps, contact Mytrang Nguyen, mnguyen@equaljusticeworks.org, ext. 132.
Equal Justice Works, formerly the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL), leads the country in organizing, training and supporting public service-minded law students and in creating summer and postgraduate public interest jobs. Through more than eight million dollars in annual donations from prestigious law firms, corporations and foundations, Equal Justice Works funds law students and lawyers in programs that bring justice to millions of low-income persons and families.