The Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP) will host its 20th annual auction on Feb. 27.

The auction will begin at 6 p.m. at the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl St., Buffalo. Tickets are available for $40 at the door, which includes two hours of food and drink catered by Pearl Street.

This event is the largest fundraising effort for BPILP, organized to fund fellowships for law students who have obtained non-paid summer positions with various public interest organizations in Western New York and around the world.

"Public interest" encompasses many areas of the law, among them domestic violence, child advocacy, human rights, poverty law, elder law and environmental law. While many organizations are in need of legal assistance that law students can offer, they often cannot afford to provide a paycheck.

“Many of the law students want to work in the public interest, but often feel forced to take a paid position instead,” says Corey Chapin, ’15, president of the BPILP board.

“BPILP allows students to explore public interest careers as paid interns. It’s a win for the community and for the law students,” she says.

Up for auction this year are items for the silent and live auction, as well as raffle items that will include fine art; theater, concert and sporting-event tickets; restaurant and salon gift certificates; themed gift baskets; jewelry and many other objects. The event typically draws former BPILP recipients, alumni and friends from throughout Buffalo's legal community.

Fellowship recipients recently interned at the Prisoners’ Legal Services of NY, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Legal Services of the Elderly, Disabled and Disadvantaged, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, and many others.

To purchase tickets online, visit the BPILP website.