Law Schools

Alms Fellowships for the Poor: Only Unemployed Columbia Law Grads Need Apply

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We’ve been trying to stay on top of all the things law schools can do to help their students who have been crushed by the current economic environment. Although it’s a little bit late, it looks like Columbia Law School will be offering a helping hand for some of its recent graduates that haven’t been able to find a job.
On Friday, Dean David Schizer offered five fellowships to the Columbia class of 2009:

I am delighted to announce the creation of five new fellowship opportunities for graduates pursuing careers in public interest law and government service: the Social Justice Pathways Fellowships. Each of the fellowships will carry a $25,000 stipend to fund up to eight months of work. The members of the J.D. Class of 2009 are the first class eligible to become Social Justice Pathways Fellows.
These fellowships serve two important purposes. First, they allow qualified graduates committed to a career in public interest law to gain the experience, skills and networks that will assist them to get full-time jobs in their fields. Second, they provide talented young lawyers to organizations that are confronting great demand and diminished resources.

Cue the “they’re only doing this to massage their U.S. News ’employed upon graduation’ statistic” in 3 … 2 … 1 …
More details after the jump.


NYU students might scream that Columbia has ulterior, U.S. News law school rankings, motives for the fellowship program. That isn’t going to matter much to the five otherwise unemployed recent graduates who get the fellowship:

The Social Justice Pathways Fellowships will be awarded to five graduates in the J.D. Class of 2009, presently unemployed, who seek job opportunities in public interest or government law offices. The Social Justice Program, directed by Dean Ellen Chapnick, will work with applicants to identify not-for-profit organizations or government agencies that would be a good match. Priority will be given to organizations that agree to provide summer internships and pro bono opportunities to current Columbia Law School students.

It’s kind of a law school version of an incoming associate deferral program isn’t it? The school will give you money, you will work for a non-profit, hopefully in a year everything will be better and we can never speak of this again.
And while $25K is a lot less than law firms are offering deferred incoming associates, it beats the bag out of a New York State unemployment check.
Good luck, “I’m so totally screwed” Pathways Fellowship applicants. Anytime you get a chance to get off the dole, you have to take it.
Read the full announcement below.
COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL — STATEMENT — FELLOWSHIP
I am delighted to announce the creation of five new fellowship opportunities for graduates pursuing careers in public interest law and government service: the Social Justice Pathways Fellowships. Each of the fellowships will carry a $25,000 stipend to fund up to eight months of work. The members of the J.D. Class of 2009 are the first class eligible to become Social Justice Pathways Fellows.
These fellowships serve two important purposes. First, they allow qualified graduates committed to a career in public interest law to gain the experience, skills and networks that will assist them to get full-time jobs in their fields. Second, they provide talented young lawyers to organizations that are confronting great demand and diminished resources.
The Social Justice Pathways Fellowships will be awarded to five graduates in the J.D. Class of 2009, presently unemployed, who seek job opportunities in public interest or government law offices. The Social Justice Program, directed by Dean Ellen Chapnick, will work with applicants to identify not-for-profit organizations or government agencies that would be a good match. Priority will be given to organizations that agree to provide summer internships and pro bono opportunities to current Columbia Law School students.
Interested students are required to notify the Law School of their intent to apply for a Social Justice Pathways Fellowship by the end of May. A formal application — which will include a commitment letter from a prospective employer — will be made during the summer. The fellowships will be awarded in time for the fellows to start work in September.
This program provides graduates with real opportunities to practice the kind of law that strengthens society and improves the world in which we live. I encourage you to learn more about this exciting new opportunity by contacting the Social Justice Program’s Center for Public Interest Law.
David
Earlier: Open Thread: What Can Law Schools Do?
Northwestern Law Gets ‘Proactive’

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