A glimmer of hope shines upon public interest law students as a new grant emerges, offering them a chance to attain much-needed financial relief.
Georgia State University College of Law was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Georgia State University Women's Philanthropy Network (WPN). The grant aims to empower and support public interest law students who are involved in work serving those who identify as women and participate in summer unpaid internships.
In 2024, this generous grant will pave the way for exceptional students to embark on an impactful journey.
"It is a joy to support the Law School because of our shared mission of advocacy. The WPN grant cycle is structured so that our selection process is systematic and fair...,” said Felicia Mayfield, chair of the GSU Women’s Philanthropy Network.
“The Women’s Philanthropy Network demonstrates its commitment to ensuring student empowerment through all the grant awardees while following a set of criteria that addresses Georgia State’s Strategic Pillars. We look forward to a rich partnership with the Law school for years to come,” she added.
Darcy McLean, the deputy director of the Center for Access to Justice and director of Public Interest programs, explained that this grant is a lifeline for students burdened by housing and other financial responsibilities during the summer.
“Financial support is critical for students pursuing otherwise unfunded public interest internships. Without that funding, many students may be hampered in exploring a potential path to a career of service,” said McLean.
Recipients of this remarkable grant will have the opportunity to serve as mentors to future recipients or even undergraduate students with a passion for law, McLean shared.
Thanks to WPN's generosity, the College of Law can now give more extraordinary students a chance to shine. Each student will receive $5,000, if they engage in qualifying work.
McLean's hope is that this grant will become an annual tradition. However, the limited funding available for each student poses a challenge.
“Though we are fortunate to have a handful of funding opportunities ranging from $2,500 to $6,000 per student for the summer from sources including federal work study, limited stipends from the Public Interest Law Association, John Paul Stevens Foundation, the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, and potential funding from the State Bar of Georgia, demand for this kind of support far exceeds supply.”
While the recipients for the WPN grant have yet to be chosen, McLean shared insights about previous applicants for public interest law grants. Historically, the majority of the applicants have been women.
Giuliana Cardoza (J.D. 24) is a former summer grant recipient, and she is the most recent president of the Public Interest Law Association at the College of Law. Cardoza faced the daunting challenge of balancing her living costs while pursuing her dream of working at the DeKalb Public Defender's Office.
“I received funding from the Public Interest Law Association. I interned there [with the DeKalb Public Defender] last summer. I was very thankful for funding… It is an immense privilege to be able to take an unpaid summer internship as an adult with bills and expenses,” said Cardoza, who is excited that more funding is being made available to students.
To be eligible for the WPN award, applicants must be enrolled in the College of Law and have a qualifying summer placement.
Additionally, they must exhibit a deep commitment to public service throughout their law school journey. Active involvement with organizations such as the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers and/or the College of Law Women in Law student group is also required. Finally, securing a summer placement at an organization that serves women or addresses issues impacting women, like the League of Women Voters, National Women's Law Center, or the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation's Safe Families Office, is also essential.
-Written by Maya Carpenter