UB Law School Auction to Benefit Public-interest Internships

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP) will host its 15th annual auction to benefit scholarships for law students interested in working this summer for public-interest organizations and agencies at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Pearl Street Bar & Brewery, 76 Pearl St., Buffalo.

The auction is the primary fundraiser for student fellowships that have taken University at Buffalo students around the country and the world. All money raised will benefit numerous student fellowships for UB Law students this summer.

The event will feature a silent and live auction. Prizes include tropical vacations, jewelry, sports and theater tickets, signed sports memorabilia, and restaurant and salon gift certificates. Tickets are $20 for law students, or $35 for non-law students, and can be purchased by e-mailing BPILP President Marize Ayob at ayob@buffalo.edu.

The tickets include a two-hour open bar, appetizers and the opportunity to network with law students, professors and members of Buffalo's legal community.

The program has helped numerous students find valuable professional opportunities in public-interest agencies locally, as well as throughout the U.S. Last summer, Jared Vega '11 worked in Buffalo for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, where he represented clients in unemployment hearings at the Department of Labor.

"The fellowship money helped supplement my income for the summer," said Vega, who worked a second job besides his fellowship. "Students should apply for the fellowship, because it can really help you get a lot of hands-on experience without having to work an extra full-time job."

Sara Korol '11, another recipient of the fellowship, spent her summer in Richmond, Calif., working at Bay Area Legal Aid, where she assisted low-income Spanish-speaking clients with their public benefits claims. She also drafted special visa applications for victims of domestic violence.

"I came to law school to work in the public interest, so applying for the fellowship was a no-brainer," Korol said. "I think everyone would benefit from the experience of using the law to serve traditionally underserved communities. It's very rewarding, and you get a very high level of involvement with clients and projects."

Korol said she would not have been able to afford working and living in San Francisco if she did not get receive the BPILP fellowship.

Last summer, BPILP helped students take advantage of positions at:

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Customs and Border Protection, Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, Buffalo

• Monroe County Public Defender's Office, Rochester

• Volunteer Lawyers Project, Buffalo

• MicroBiz Buffalo Inc.

• Legal Services NYC: Education Unit, New York City

• Buffalo First

• Gibbons and Stadler, Buffalo

• Empire Justice Center, Rochester

• New York Civil Liberties Union, Buffalo

• Sanctuary for Families, New York City

• Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo: Public Defender Unit

• Neighborhood Legal Services, Homeless Task Force, Buffalo

• Bay Area Legal Aid, Richmond, Calif.

• Housing Partnership Development Corp., New York City

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, New York City

• TransAfrica Forum, Washington, D.C.

• Make the Road New York, Brooklyn

• Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, NYU School of Law, New York City

For more information about the auction or summer fellowships, e-mail Emily Catalano, BPILP's vice president of fundraising, at EGCatalano@gmail.com, or call 716-645-6261.

Since its founding in 1887, the University at Buffalo Law School -- the State University of New York system's only law school -- has established an excellent reputation and is widely regarded as a leader in legal education. Its cutting-edge curriculum provides both a strong theoretical foundation and the practical tools graduates need to succeed in a competitive marketplace, wherever they choose to practice. A special emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, public service and opportunities for hands-on clinical education makes UB Law unique among the nation's premier public law schools.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.