Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Auction to Raise Funds for Public Interest Fellowships

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Want to feel good while snagging a bargain? Then attend the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program's ninth annual fundraising auction, to be held from 7-10 p.m. on Feb. 27 in the Rich Renaissance Niagara Conference Center, Buffalo.

Ron Plants, weekend anchor for WGRZ-TV Channel 2, will serve as celebrity auctioneer.

University at Buffalo Law School students who work over the summer at law firms or corporate law departments often earn big bucks, unlike those whose passion for the law runs to public-interest work. Most public-interest internships pay nothing. How is a struggling student to survive?

Enter the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP), a student-run program that is one of the UB Law School's most active and most successful. Founded to help students take internships in non-paying government and public-interest settings, the group awards fellowships to UB law students to help make that financially possible.

BPILP fellowships pay about $3,500 for the summer. Last year, BPILP paid for nine students to take jobs. This year, the goal is 15 fellowships. Past BPILP fellows have interned at offices that include Neighborhood Legal Services, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the Family Court Resource Project and Legal Aid for Children.

Items to be auctioned will include fine art, theater and concert tickets, gift certificates to restaurants, memberships in health clubs, jewelry and antiques.

Tickets are $30 general admission and $25 for college students, and may be purchased by email or by phone via credit card, or by mail via check or credit card. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. An open bar and hors d'oeuvres will be included.

Those who are unable to attend are asked to consider making a donation. To purchase tickets, to make a cash or auction-item donation to BPILP, or for more information, contact the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program at 645-2056 or BPILP@yahoo.com.