Save the Date: Public Interest Wine and Cheese Reception

Thursday, February 16, 2012

5:30-7pm

University of Baltimore School of Law Lobby

Following the 2012 UB/UM Public Interest Career Fair, mix and mingle with local public interest attorneys specializing in a variety of fields.  Wine and light hor d'oeuvres will be served.  RSVP by February 10 to ubspi@ubalt.edu.

Reflections from the Field (Part 2)

This past summer, UBSPI (in conjunction with the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and the University of Baltimore School of Law),  funded 15 UB Law students to intern at public interest organizations to gain first-hand legal experience serving a variety of communities.  Over the next few months, their stories will be highlighted on Out in the Streets.

1Ls and 2Ls:  Are you interested in applying for a $4,000 grant to support your public interest work this summer?  Applications for 2012 grants are available here.  Remember:  Much of our funding comes from our annual public interest auction, to be held this year on March 9.  (More information will be available shortly). 

Lauren Whitaker, 2L, University of Baltimore School of Law- Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education

This summer I was afforded the opportunity to intern with Maryland Coalition for Inclusive  Education (MCIE).  MCIE is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that students with disabilities are included in their neighborhood schools.  The organization does this by advocacy and professional development.  I worked with the advocacy department and had the opportunity to work on mediation and Due Process requests, draft memorandum for the attorneys, and interview clients.  I was also able to sit in on several Individualized Education Plan meetings and observe mediations between the parents and the school administrators.  My internship significantly broadened my knowledge of the field of both education and civil rights law.

Not only was I able to gain this substantive knowledge, I also saw that there is much to be gained in working to secure an inclusive public education for students who are unsure or otherwise unable to advocate for themselves in a dispute with the school system.   My work was always met with sincere gratitude and appreciation from the families that we worked with this summer.  Additionally, it was a great experience to work with such outstanding attorneys who were always ready to “go to bat” for their students.  Because of my great experience this summer, I will be continuing to work with MCIE throughout the school year and would recommend anyone interested in educational advocacy, mediation, or civil rights to pursue an internship with MCIE.

Reflections from the Field (Part 1)

This past summer, UBSPI (in conjunction with the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and the University of Baltimore School of Law), funded 15 UB Law students to intern at public interest organizations to gain first-hand legal experience serving a variety of communities.  Over the next few months, their stories will be highlighted on Out in the Streets.

1Ls and 2Ls:  Are you interested in applying for a $4,000 grant to support your public interest work this summer? 

Sara Cimino, 2L, University of Baltimore School of Law - MVLS / Project Heal

I spent the past summer working with Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law), a partnership between the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI), and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.  Project HEAL provides free legal services to low income families and developmentally disabled children who are receiving services from KKI and The Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

My internship experience was truly holistic as I was exposed to all facets of providing legal representation to a vulnerable community, including: (1) direct legal representation; (2) consultations with health professionals; (3) community advocacy; and (4) community and professional trainings.  I spent most of my time working on special education cases where I was able to help advocate for the appropriate educational program and placement for children with disabilities.  Often times I would follow a case from start to finish, participating in in-take meetings, drafting correspondence, reviewing records, and attending IEP meetings.  The parents I met were often discouraged from their own unsuccessful advocacy efforts, or the overwhelming feeling that comes from not knowing what to do to help their children.  For me, it was an incredibly rewarding feeling to give a parent the peace of mind and sense of hope that comes with knowing that someone is going to help them advocate for their child.

Ultimately, I learned how crucial it is that attorneys continue to serve their communities through public interest law.  If organizations like Project Heal didn’t exist, hundreds of families and children would suffer.  Everyone deserves an advocate.  Applications for 2012 grants are available here.  Remember:  Much of our funding comes from our annual public interest auction, to be held this year on March 9.  (More information will be available shortly). 

Save the Date! UB/UM Public Service Legal Career Fair

February 16, 2012

UB Thumel Business Center Atrium (across from the law school)

3-5:30pm

Meet public-interest legal employers from around the state; discuss internships and employment opportunities; and learn about the rewards of legal careers in the public sector. Put on your suit, bring your resume and practice your elevator speech. This could be your chance to launch your legal career!

Click here for the online invitation.

Some (but not all) of the employers expected to attend:

• ACLU of Maryland
• Alternative Directions Inc.
• Baltimore City Law Department
• CASA de Maryland
• Catholic Relief Services, Office of Legal Counsel
• Civil Justice Inc.
• Community Law Center
• EEOC, Office of Administrative Law Judges
• Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Homeless Persons Representation Project
• House of Ruth
• Howard County Office of Law
• IRS, Chief Counsel Office
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
• Legal Services to the Elderly
• Maryland Department of Legislative Services
• Maryland Department of Social Services
• Maryland Disability Law Center
• Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.
• Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings
• Maryland Office of the Attorney General
• Maryland Office of the Public Defender
• Maryland Public Interest Law Project
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
• National Labor Relations Board
• Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
• Office of the County Attorney, Montgomery County
• Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
• Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City
• Pro Bono Resource Center
• Social Security Administration
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons
• U.S. Marine Corps JAG
• Women's Law Center of Maryland  

UBSPI Summer Grant Applications Now Available

The application for the 2012 summer UBSPI grants are now available for download on our TWEN page.  The application schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, November 16, 2011     

Application is released via TWEN.

Thursday, March 8, 2012                

Applications (hard copy) are due no later than 5:00pm to the LCDO. 

Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, March 5. 

Friday, March 30, 2012                   

Applicants will be notified of the final decisions.  (This date is subject to change).

For more information on past years' grantees and their summer internship experiences, click here.   

Public Interest Loan Forgiveness, Scholarship, and Grant Info Session

Wednesday, November 16
12pm
Room 201, UB Law School

Do you want to pursue a career in social justice but not sure how you'll survive on a public interest salary?  Come to our information session to learn about loan forgiveness options, scholarship opportunities, and UBSPI-sponsored summer public interest grants.  Jill Green of UB Law's LCDO, along with UBSPI board members, will present on the various financial options available to you.

Lunch will be served.  See you there!

It's Alive!

Out in the Streets is back for the 2011-2012 school year.  Stay tuned for news about upcoming UBSPI meetings, networking and fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, and information about summer public interest grants. 

A very special welcome to our new members - we are looking forward to a great year ahead.