ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥

Public Interest Fellowship Program

The Walter A. Lucas Public Interest Fellowship Program (PIFP) at ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law has provided financial support to students who commit their summers to public service legal work for over 25 years. Every year, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ students are inspired to share their talents and give back to their community through public service legal work. However, due to the financial restraints many public interest organizations face, students work in unpaid positions. From these circumstances, PIFP was born. PIFP, an entirely student-run organization, works tirelessly to provide summer fellowships to ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law students, who, in turn, dedicate themselves to providing legal services to those who need it most. At PIFP, our fellows know the value of public interest law, and we are devoted to providing opportunities for students to experience meaningful, fulfilling work without fear of summer finances.

Since its founding in 1998, PIFP has raised over $1,000,000, supporting over 250 fellows with awards. The impact of PIFP has been felt worldwide, with ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ students using their fellowships in over 130 organizations located across nineteen districts, fourteen states and five countries.Ìý

Support PIFP

If you would like to support PIFP’s mission of providing meaningful opportunities for ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law students to work alongside public interest organizations and deliver impactful legal aid to those who need it most, please consider making a tax-exempt monetary contribution.

Please consider sponsoring a fellow for

  • an hour ($15)
  • a day ($120)
  • a week ($600)
  • a month ($2,400)
  • an entire summer ($6,000)

If you have any questions about PIFP, public interest law or getting involved with the organization, pleaseÌýcontact us.

PIFP would like to take a moment to thank all of our community partners and donors who generously contributed to this year’s auction! Please visit our partners’ websites below for more information!

  • Bliss Nail and Spa
  • Ìý Ìý Ìý
  • Anne Cook
  • ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
  • Ìý ÌýÌý
  • Professor Lori Corso
  • Professor David Caudill
  • Professor Michelle Dempsey
  • Bo Connell
  • Dean Michael Risch
  • Professor MarySheila McDonald
  • Professor Amy Emerson
  • Professor Mary DeFusco
  • Veronica Sansone
  • Professor Steven Chanenson
  • Professor Chaim Saiman
  • Professor Lee Rosengard
  • Professor Thomas Bennett
  • Janine Dunlap-Kiah
  • Pat Lavin
  • Caity Rogowski
  • The Rafter Family
  • Victoria Alexitch
  • Professor Ann Juliano
  • Professor Doris Brogan
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Library
  • Professor Itay Ravid
  • Corporate Law Society
  • Edward Stephen
  • Professor Emily Stolzenberg
  • Alicia Broderick
  • Professor Amy Spare
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Office of Development and Alumni Relations
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Student Bar Association
  • Professor Matthew McGovern
  • Dean Mark Alexander
  • Professor Andrew Brandt
  • Professor Candance Centeno
  • Professor Amy Emerson
  • Professor Mary Ann Robinson
  • Riley Crouthamel
  • Rachael Robles
  • Shea Rhodes & Paul Duca
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Clinic Faculty
  • Lauren Walsh
  • Nic Johnson
  • Casey Brogan
  • Jillian Updegraff
  • Anthony Ryback
  • Sofia Deihl
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Entertainment & Media Law Society
  • Kevin Sheppard
  • Eddie Reilingh
  • Joe Capone
  • Conor Mach
  • Joe Torres
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Review
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA)
  • Professor Daniel Friedman
  • Sharon Buckingham
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Jewish Law Students Association
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Federalist Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Criminal Law Society
  • Caela Russel
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Office of Development and Alumni Relations
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Immigration Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Entrepreneurship Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ OUTLaw
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Justinian Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Street Law
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Women’s Network
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Military and Veterans Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Sports Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Tax Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Students Against Sexual Violence
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Anti-Poverty Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ If/When/How
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Health Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Student Mental Health Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ National Trial Team
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Environmental Law Journal
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ First Generation Lawyers Group
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Asian and Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA)
  • Emily Dodds
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Women’s Law Caucus (WLC)
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Fashion Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Pro Bono Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ International Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Intellectual Property Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Moot Court Board
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Muslim Law Students Association
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Art Law Society
  • ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Middle Eastern Law Students Association

Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

2024–25 Executive Board

Co-directors:ÌýRiley Crouthamel '25Ìý&ÌýEmily Dodds '25

Vice Director:
ÌýDave Goulden-Naitove '25

Auction Coordinators:ÌýCaroline Nelson '25 & Lauren Walsh '25

Solicitation Coordinators: Caitlin McElwee '26 & Gavin Tamer '26

Volunteer Coordinator: Alysse Danyi '26

Fellowship Coordinator:

Secretary & Graphics Coordinator: Sydney Ryan '26

Treasurer: Allison Gherovici '25

Grants & Endowments Coordinator: Morgan Nash '26

Special Events Coordinator: Will Gale '26

Social Chair: Ryan Roe '25

Alumni Coordinator: Sadie Richardson '26

PIFP Committee: Maria Elisa Escobar '26; Colin Hopkins '26; Ry Stratton '26; Bryce Winterowd '26

Faculty Advisors:ÌýDoris BrogranÌý&Ìý

Ìý Ìý

PIFP Events

The highlight of PIFP’s fundraising efforts is its annual spring auction, which in recent years has featured 250 to 300 silent and live auction items donated by individuals and businesses throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. We hope you’ll join us for this year’s auction onÌýMarch 23, 2024. Learn more about last year's Fellows,Ìý for this year'sÌýWalter A. Lucas Public Interest Fellowship Program’sÌýAnnual Public Interest Auction.Ìý!

If you have an item you would like to donate please complete the donation form in ourÌýsolicitation packet.

The Philadelphia Deans’ Cup is an annual charity basketball tournament designed to raise funds for the public interest organizations of participating local law schools.

The 2024 tournament featured Drexel Law, Penn Law, Temple Law and ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law and was hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School at The Palestra on Friday, March 22. In game one, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law defeated Drexel Law in a thrilling overtime matchup. Despite a late-game comeback, Penn Law defeated ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law in the finals.Ìý

ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ won the inaugural Deans' Cup game in 2011 and took the cup again in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019, when it hosted the competition.

Ìý ÌýÌý

PIFP Fellows

2024

  • Alysse DanyiÌý‘26
  • Caitlin McElwee ‘26
  • Maria Elisa Escobar ‘26
  • Allison Gherovici ‘25
  • Colin Hopkins ‘26
  • Arielle Jackson ‘26
  • Morgan Nash ‘26
  • Fiona Powell‘25
  • Sadie Richardson ‘26
  • Ryan Roe ‘25
  • Rachael Smith ‘25
  • Gavin Tamer ‘26
  • David Tilli ‘25
  • Cady Tobin ‘26
  • Lauren Walsh ‘25

2023

  • Casey Brogan ‘24
  • Andrea Solis Canto ‘25
  • Riley Crouthamel ‘25
  • Sofia Deihl ‘24
  • Emily Dodds ‘25
  • David Goulden-Naitove ‘25
  • Alannah King ‘24
  • Rachel Robles ‘25
  • Caela Russell ‘25
  • Anthony Ryback ‘25
  • Veronica Sansone ‘24
  • Julia Sullivan ‘25
  • Brooke Tyler ‘24
  • Jillian Updegraff ‘25
  • Nic Johnson ‘25

2022

  • Anderson Amaya '24
  • Kimberly Baxter '23
  • Victoria Stabile Bouvé '24
  • Riley Cook '23, Hacker Fellow
  • Laurel Enaco '24, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Faculty & Staff Fellow
  • Michaela Kelly '24
  • Conor Mach '24
  • Leigh McLinden '23
  • Jordyn Pace '24
  • Madelyn Phinney '23
  • Julia Raith '24, Penny Pether Fellow
  • Eddie Reilingh '23
  • Caity Rogowski '24
  • Briana Smalley '23
  • Julia Stribula '24, Krasno, Krasno & Onwudinjo Fellow
  • Sarah Urie '24
  • Sadie Walker '24

2021

  • Taylor Bourguignon '23
  • Alicia Broderick '23, Penny Pether Fellow
  • Melissa Durante '23, Krasno, Krasno & Onwudinjo Fellow
  • Annalise Hodges '22
  • Juliette Mogenson '23
  • Destynee Speaks '23
  • Rachel Wolfman '23, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Faculty & Staff Fellow

ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University Charles Widger School of Law
Public Interest Fellowship Program
299 North Spring Mill Road
ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥, PA 19085

Ìý

ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University Charles Widger
School of Law
299 N. Spring Mill Rd.
ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥, PA 19085
610-519-7000Ìý ÌýContact Law

ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University Charles Widger School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-6738