SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

TIMELY TOPICS AND ACTIVISM
Marriage Equality: Civil Rights Considerations for Same-Sex Couples

DESCRIPTION:
Support for marriage equality for same-sex couples continues to grow, even as it remains a subject of high-profile public debate. As state courts and legislatures grapple with the issue, couples in the U.S. are still facing legal difficulties ensuring their families are protected in all areas, such as wills, health care and adoptions. The denial of marriage to same-sex couples makes them second-class citizens, unable to access basic rights. What is being and can be done to bring marriage equality to the lesbian and gay community? This workshop, sponsored by Equal Justice Works and Lambda Legal, covers the current legal and legislative activity on marriage equality and relationship recognition for same-sex couples.

PRESENTERS:

• Ken Choe, ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project
• Kara Suffredini, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
• Hector Vargas, Lambda Legal

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Advancing Justice and Promoting Government Accountability: Community Lawyering, the Law and Grassroots Organizing

DESCRIPTION:
Lean how to use community lawyering skills to further your cause. This presentation will focus on building capacity and resources to advance justice, impact public policy, address issues of public concern, and reform government institutions. Tools discussed include open government laws, the First Amendment, election laws, grassroots community organizing, civic engagement, coalition building, the media, and impact litigation.

PRESENTER:

• Terry Pastika, Citizen Advocacy Center

ROADMAP TO PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS
Strategies for Affording a Career in Public Interest Law

DESCRIPTION:
Working as a public interest/public sector attorney can be very rewarding. But student loan debt may have you worried about how you can manage financially. Learn how to plan your educational investment, borrow money wisely, avoid deficits and budget for your future. This seminar will focus on strategies that can help you overcome the financial barriers to a career in public interest/public sector law.

PRESENTER:

• Jeff Hanson, Access Group

BRIEFING
College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 What Does It Mean to Me?

In September, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which positively changes the financial landscape for many public interest lawyers. Sections of the act provide high-debt/ low-income borrowers the ability to repay their student loans at reduced monthly payments and provide for loan forgiveness following 10 years of full-time public service employment. In this session, Equal Justice Works Program Manger Heather Wells Jarvis describes the key provisions of the Act such as how the new “income-based repayment” and public service loan forgiveness provisions operate, which loans are eligible and what counts as public service employment.

More information about the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

PRESENTER:

• Heather Wells Jarvis, Equal Justice Works

WORKSHOP
How to Get a Job in Public Interest

Come to this session for advice from leaders in the field on what it takes to get and keep a job in public interest law. This session provides an opportunity to hear about career trajectories, to network with leaders and to find out what qualities make competetive candidates.

ROADMAP TO PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS
Alternative Roads to Public Interest

DESCRIPTION:
Equal Justice Works staff will facilitate small group discussions on Summer Corps, Fellowships, internships/externships and other career opportunities. Share your experiences and learn how to navigate your way to a fulfilling public interest career from your peers.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Campus Advocacy: Using Data to Make your Case

DESCRIPTION:
Learn how student leaders use program and curriculum data from other law schools to help advance their advocacy efforts for new initiatives at their schools. Attendees explore the data available in The E-Guide to Public Service at America’s Law Schools, the interactive online resource of public service opportunities, curricula and financial programs at more than 150 law schools on Newsweek.com, and discuss how they can use it to make statistical and anecdotal comparisons for important discussions with law school deans, administrators and faculty.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Campus Advocacy: Using Data to Make your Case

DESCRIPTION:
Learn how student leaders use program and curriculum data from other law schools to help advance their advocacy efforts for new initiatives at their schools. Attendees explore the data available in The E-Guide to Public Service at America’s Law Schools, the interactive online resource of public service opportunities, curricula and financial programs at more than 150 law schools on Newsweek.com, and discuss how they can use it to make statistical and anecdotal comparisons for important discussions with law school deans, administrators and faculty.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Public Interest Law Foundation Leaders Meeting

DESCRIPTION:
This session provides a networking opportunity for officers from Equal Justice Works member law schools’ Public Interest Law Foundations. This meeting, facilitated by Equal Justice Works staff, invites foundation leaders to share best practices and programming ideas.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

TIMELY TOPICS AND ACTIVISM
Lawyers and Law Students Working to End Homelessness

DESCRIPTION:
This workshop examines the substantive legal issues faced by many people experiencing homelessness and the solutions being offered by both direct legal services as well as policy-based advocacy. The workshop highlights law student run programs such as the Street Youth Legal Advocates of Washington that provides civil legal representation, information and education to the homeless and at-risk youth population of Washington. Additionally, the panel examines the court’s response to homelessness by examining the work of San Diego’s Homeless Court–an innovative program aimed at removing legal barriers to treatment, services, housing and employment. All participants will receive free copies of the ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty’s book, Lawyers Working to End Homelessness.

PRESENTERS:

• Steve Binder, San Diego County Office of the Public Defender
• Tulin Ozdeger, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
• Corey F. Wood, Street Youth Legal Advocates of Washington (SYLAW)

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Speaking with Impact: Presentation Skills 101

DESCRIPTION:
If you thought moot court was tough, try talking to the press, in front of a town hall meeting or just one influential person. Learn how to take the legalese out of your speech and make your messages accessible and persuasive. This workshop features communications experts who will share tricks of the trade for effective public speaking to enhance your project.

PRESENTER:

• Andrew Gilman, CommCore Consulting

ROADMAP TO PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS
International Public Interest Opportunities: Discover the Possibilities

DESCRIPTION:
In this workshop, students from law schools across the country share their international internship experiences. They address specific challenges of international placements, and how to overcome those challenges. Logistical aspects to be covered include: identifying funding sources, finding host organizations, differences between NGO and government entities, and cultural barriers.

PRESENTERS:

• Stephanie Cirone, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
• Lisa Mead, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
• Claudia Pena, University of California at Los Angeles School of Law
• Salman Ravala, Syracuse University College of Law
• Lindsay Toczylowski, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law

Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues

DESCRIPTION:
Since Gregg v. Georgia re-established the death penalty in the United States in 1976, the use of capital punishment has been under constant scrutiny and in a state of flux. In 2002, the execution of the mentally retarded was ruled unconstitutional; in 2005, the execution of juveniles was ruled unconstitutional. Several states have imposed moratoriums on executions and the practice of lethal injection is being questioned. Additionally, over 120 innocent people having been released from death row since 1973.

Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States and The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions, has worked closely with numerous death row inmates, capital defense attorneys, and victims’ families. Based upon a lifetime of experience, she will offer a unique perspective and thoughtful commentary on the continued use of capital punishment and the justice system. Sister Prejean will also be available to sign books.

PRESENTER:

• Sister Helen Prejean, Death Penalty Discourse

TIMELY TOPICS AND ACTIVISM
Health Care Redlining: A Hidden Consequence of the Crisis

DESCRIPTION:
The health care crisis in the United States is apparent in the financial instability of health care facilities, particularly hospitals in urban, low-income neighborhoods. A lack of financial support and comprehensive health planning for these neighborhoods has resulted in an inadequate distribution of health care resources in communities of color—in other words, a form of health care redlining.

Using New York Lawyers for the Public Interest’s community lawyering model, this workshop explores various advocacy strategies to bring communities of color to the table so they may impact their local health care resources. Such advocacy includes education and outreach, lobbying, coalition building, media, and creative lawyering in bankruptcy and administrative proceedings.

PRESENTER:

• Jin Hee Lee, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Alternative Winter/Spring Break Trips: Developing and Funding an Effective Project

DESCRIPTION:
Are you or your student organization interested in developing an alternative winter/spring break trip? This workshop covers the nuts and bolts of organizing and administering an alternative winter/spring break project, including identifying project sites and meaningful opportunities, encouraging student and faculty participation, and obtaining institutional support, resources and funding. Exampl
es include disaster relief projects in the Gulf Coast, death penalty caravans across the country, immigration trips and more. Learn about these projects and share success stories from your school.

PRESENTERS:

• Josie Beets, Brooklyn Law School
• Mimi Franke, NYU School of Law
• Melanie Kushnir, ABA Center for Pro Bono
• Melody Wells, Columbia Law School

ROADMAP TO PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS
Making Change: Understanding the Decision Makers at Your Law School

DESCRIPTION:
How to find faculty and administrators willing to champion your public interest projects? This workshop explains who does what at law schools, how to identify the key decisionmakers on your campus, and how to develop effective strategies for outreach. You’ll leave knowing how to better answer questions such as: Who are my allies? What is my message? What other pressures might the Dean of X or the Director of Y have that my proposal must address to be successful? Learn the answers to these questions and helpful tips to make your next proposal a success.

PRESENTER:

• Karen Lash, Equal Justice Works