PI-Gov Raises $6,000 for Summer Stipends

April 3, 2006

The Capital University Law School Public Interest and Government Law Association (PI-Gov) raised more than $6,000 in a silent auction for students, faculty and staff. A total of $6,123 was raised over the four-day period. All proceeds benefit the new Public Service Summer Fellow Fund. The fund will provide summer stipends to students who accept non-paid or low-paid summer legal work in a public service field.

“This was our first auction and it was a tremendous success,” said Jarrod Shirk, 2L, co-resident and auction chair of PI-Gov. “I want to thank the professors, staff, BarBri, PMBR, the Supreme Bar Review and others for their generous donations which helped to make this possible.”

Silent auction items included bar preparation courses, meals and activities with faculty, sports tickets and memorabilia, being dean for a day, reserved parking spaces and other miscellaneous items. Jessica Germain, a first-year day student, was the winner for Dean for a Day, taking the winding bid at $185. On April 17, she will switch roles with Dean Jack Guttenberg and attend various appointments and luncheons. Dean Guttenberg will be a student for the day and attend Jessica’s class schedule.

According to Capital’s Career Services Office, one-third of Capital law graduates go into public service after graduation. Their typical starting salary is about $35,000-$45,000. Combine this with a student loan debt of more than $70,000 and it is often difficult for students to choose public service employment.

“By pursuing public service and pro bono work, students are serving a great need in the community. Our goal is to create a fund to help alleviate some of the financial burden of students as they seek summer employment,” said Shirk. “The auction generated a lot of excitement and I am pleased that we will be able to award some scholarships this summer.”

Students interested in summer scholarships for their public service work, should contact Sherri Wilmoth, assistant director for annual giving and development operations, at (614) 236-6602, or via e-mail at swilmoth@law.capital.edu.

The Public Interest and Government Law Association at Capital, a student-run organization, was established in January 2005 to better educate the Law School community about the public interest and government practice areas. By exposing law students to public interest issues and government service at the earliest opportunity, students may develop a greater awareness and sensitivity of those issues that will benefit both the lawyer and society. PI-Gov is dedicated to educating and assisting students and alumni in their pursuit of public interest and government law work — paid or pro bono.