Law Students
Regional Public Interest Awards
Each year, the Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee presents eight law students throughout the country with a Regional Public Interest Award. Chosen for their innovation, impact, and commitment to public interest law, each of the students selected is recognized for providing extraordinary service through clinics, volunteer work, internships, and more. Recipients of the Regional Public Interest Awards will receive a $250 cash prize and commemorative plaque.
Application Timeline
- Application Open: March 9, 2023
- Application Close: April 9, 2023
- Winners chosen: April 30, 2023
To apply for this award, please complete and submit the form below. As part of your application, you’ll be asked to provide a personal statement describing your commitment to public interest law. In your statement, you can describe your contributions as a law student to helping disadvantaged communities; the impact your work has on your community; innovative ways you have improved upon the traditional delivery of legal services; any law school projects you started; and your long-term interest in pursuing a public interest law career.
If you have any questions about the Regional Public Interest Awards, or if you would like to nominate an extraordinary public interest law student for the award in your region, please email our team at [email protected].
Applications for the 2023 Regional Public Interest Awards are now closed.
2022 Award Winners
Lauren Cook
Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, South Region
Maggie Belcher
Michigan State University College of Law, Midwest Region
Grace Wynelle Thomas
University of Texas School of Law, Southwest Region
Aranda Stathers
Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law, Mid-Atlantic Region
Claire Comey
Washington University in Saint Louis School of Law, Mountain Region
Victoria Bonds
Loyola Law School Los Angeles, Pacific Region
Darcy Guio
Hofstra University School of Law, Northeast Region
I joined the NAC to share ways that students can impact the public interest sphere and serve underrepresented communities.
Kelsey Gunvalson /
2023-2025 National Advisory Committee Member