PI-Gov Auction Jan. 21-24 to Raise Scholarship for Summer Fellowships
January 15, 2009
2008 PI-Gov Fellows (front row, left to right): Andrea Breakwell, Keith Barrett, Aaron Fisher, Matthew Young; Back row: Delilah Nunez Giardini, Mary Nienaber, Ben Jerome, Ravisha Kuman
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The 2009 Public Interest Auction will begin at Capital University Law School at noon on Wed., Jan. 21 and conclude with a live auction gala on Sat., Jan. 24. The charity auction provides the sole funding for the fellowship program supporting Capital law students who accept low-paying or unpaid summer legal work in public interest or government fields. Each year, the auction is planned by the previous class of fellows. Mary Nienaber, 3L and a fellow in 2007 and 2008, is serving as chair of the auction for the second year.
The silent auction features a number of donations from local businesses and Capital University Law School faculty and staff. On Saturday, January 24, the 2008 fellows will host an auction gala at the Law School, which will include food and drinks, the conclusion of the silent auction, and the very first live auction. Auction items will appeal to a variety of bidders and will include hotel packages, restaurant and entertainment gift certificates, along with the opportunity to socialize with professors in a fun atmosphere. The gala also will feature a 50/50 raffle and the chance to win a beautiful piece of fine jewelry.
Suggested donations to attend the Live Auction Gala is $10 for students and $15 for faculty/staff/alumni. Contact Assistant Dean Jennifer DiSanza at jdisanza@law.capital.edu or call 614-236-6402 with questions.
The 2008 auction raised a record total of $7600, a $3200 increase over 2007. As a result, the number of students selected as fellows was doubled in 2008 to eight. Those eight fellows pursued public interest work at five different agencies— the Legal Aid Society of Columbus, Franklin County Prosecutor Office, Federal Public Defender Office, Ohio Environmental Council and the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.
Meet the 2008 Summer PI-Gov Fellows
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC) hosted four summer fellows: Aaron Fisher, 2L; Mary Nienaber, 3L; Delilah Nunez Giardini, 3L; and Matthew Young, 2L. Fisher served as a clerk for attorneys working in the area of consumer law. Both Nienaber and Young assisted the housing law work group with clinics, hearings, and various day-to-day case issues. Nienaber obtained her Legal Intern Certificate and was able to co-counsel several cases in Eviction Court. Giardini clerked for the Domestic Unit at LASC and primarily assisted with the Second Hearing Negotiation Civil Protection Order Project.
Second-year student Ravisha Kuman, who clerked at the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio, worked on multiple research projects on federal criminal issues and assisted attorneys with case research. Kuman continues to volunteer at the Federal Public Defender office and is currently assisting an attorney who represents a Guantanamo Bay detainee.
Ben Jerome, a third-year student, served as a Legal Intern in the Juvenile Division of the Office of the Franklin County Prosecutor. Because Jerome obtained his Legal Intern Certificate during the summer, he was responsible for handling his own docket of cases.
Third-year student Keith Barrett worked at the Ohio Environmental Council. He worked on the newly passed Great Lakes Compact, as well as the state constitutional amendment proposal regarding private land water rights that will be on the ballot in November. Barrett also prepared witnesses to testify before the Environmental Review Appeals Commission.
Andrea Breakwell, also a third-year, interned with the Office of Legal Services at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). She assisted staff attorneys in providing legal advice and guidance to the Director of the agency and also researched numerous topics. She participated in state meetings and hearings, as well as a federal employment trial involving ODJFS. In reflecting on her experience, Breakwell noted: “My experience as a PI-Gov fellow was invaluable. I was inspired by the dedication of the attorneys at ODJFS and my experience cemented my choice to pursue a career in public interest law.” |
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