St. John's Law Public Interest Center

We’re counting down the days! Our annual Public Interest Auction is open to students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and friends of the law school. Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of public interest law! We welcome donations, sponsorships, and encourage you to grab your ticket for a night of fun—all for a great cause. Learn more and stay tuned for a preview of the experiences that will be up for bidding: https://lnkd.in/eKHjS_st

Last week, we were proud to support two important events! 🍪 California Wildfire Relief Bake Sale – Students from the Center, the Public Interest Law Students Association, and the Environmental Law Society came together to organize a bake sale in support of wildfire relief efforts in California. All proceeds will support a nonprofit that helps consumers of all types of insurance across the United States. 🎟️ Silent Auction at the 2025 St. John's University School of Law Alumni Association Luncheon – It was inspiring to see our alumni, faculty, and students come together to bid on a variety of experiences and items at the silent auction—all while supporting a great cause. Proceeds from the silent auction support programs of the Center, including the Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program and pro bono initiatives. A huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped make these events a success. Your generosity makes a real impact!

We’re eagerly counting down to the St. John’s Law Alumni Association Luncheon in just two weeks! Attendees will be able to bid on a range of exciting experiences and items in the silent auction, with all proceeds directly supporting our programs.

We're excited to start the spring semester by featuring our inaugural Fellows cohort! "Since starting last fall, [our Fellows] have set a strong foundation for what promises to be an exciting spring, when many of our initiatives gain momentum," said Director Jeanne Ortiz Ortiz. This year's Fellows are: Justin Gorgchuck '25 Sadia Kauser '25 Bridget Murphy '25 Sabrina Meristil '25 Hannah Stubbs '26 Learn more about the St. John's University School of Law Public Interest Center Fellowship Program and its meaning to our students: https://lnkd.in/eX4KJdFh

We are proud to see St. John’s Law alumni making a difference in public service and advancing justice through public interest work. Commissioner Denise M. Miranda, Esq. '96 is an inspiring example of this commitment, now leading the fight against discrimination at the New York State Division of Human Rights. Thank you, Commissioner Miranda, for sharing your journey and for your ongoing dedication to this work.

Thanks to the collective contributions of our alumni, faculty, administrators, staff, foundations, academic centers, and friends—whether through giving campaigns, auction support, or direct donations—this year we achieved a milestone for our Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program. For the first time, we were able to fund every eligible student applicant. This is a testament to the power of community and a shared commitment to supporting our students advancing public interest work. We look forward to building on this momentum in 2025. Thank you for making this possible!

Congratulations to the St. John's University School of Law Public Interest Law Students Association (PILSA) for organizing a great lineup of events for #ProBonoWeek last week! The week included roundtable discussions on summer public interest internships—many of which our students complete as pro bono work—and concluded with a student-alumni networking reception. #CelebrateProBono

Last week at St. John's Law was truly inspiring! Our Center proudly celebrated pro bono by uniting students and alumni to provide legal support to New Yorkers through the American Bar Association Free Legal Answers program. Thank you to all who signed up, showed up, and dedicated their time to making a difference. #CelebrateProBono

Congratulations to Dorian E. Rojas ’15 (left) for being recognized as a Distinguished Dominican in the Exterior! This prestigious award, granted by the Institute of Dominicans in the Exterior (INDEX), was presented by the Honorable Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, at a ceremony last month. The award honors Dominicans worldwide for their dedication and contributions to Dominican families and communities. A proud alum of St. John's University School of Law, Dorian received this distinction for her remarkable work in immigration law and advocacy, child and family law, and public service in New York. 

Yesterday, over 50 St. John's University School of Law students participated in the Public Interest Center’s semester training for the Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO). The training was led by our faculty advisors, Professors Ann Goldweber and Gina Calabrese. This initiative connects law students with volunteer attorneys to assist self-represented litigants in Queens navigating consumer debt cases. Also pictured are Sam D'Alba '26 and Asma Halimi '26 who are collaborating with the professors on this important work throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who completed the training and signed up to volunteer! Gina Calabrese, ann goldweber #CelebrateProBono #ProBonoMonth #MakingJusticeARealityInOurCommunities