Gonzaga Public Interest Law Project

04/19/2018

Dont forget to turn in your GPILP Grant applications TODAY BY 4pm!! We have over $10,000 in grant money just waiting to be awarded to deserving applicants to help fund summer public interest work!

Still have questions about the application? Contact Tirra Dawn Seely or Amanda Kaplan!

03/03/2018

02/26/2018

ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE GPILP AUCTION!!! Don't forget to buy your ticket before we run out! Every ticket sold goes towards providing summer grants for students committed to public service. Here how one of these grants allowed 3L Lucas Nolta to serve the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.

"Last Summer I was given the opportunity to pursue my dream career at the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office as a Rule 9 Intern. Since I was a child I have wanted to be a prosecutor in the community where I was born and raised. The grant I received from GPILP allowed me to pursue my goals and grow my skills in criminal litigation. During my time at the Prosecutor’s Office I had the unique opportunity to handle every stage of criminal proceedings including arraignment, trial, sentencing, and appeal. Pursuing justice has always been a passion of mine and GPILP has made it possible for to build on that passion while making the State of Washington a safer place. There have been few things in my life as satisfying as making a difference in my community and I am extremely thankful to GPILP and its donors for helping me do just that."

02/21/2018

Join us for "A Night at the Disco" on March 2nd from 7 - 11 pm!

The doors will open at 6 pm for you to enjoy wine and beer from the bar, browse and bid on silent auction items, and mingle. Dinner will be served with a live auction to follow! Don't miss out on the fun and support an amazing cause!!!

To buy tickets or a table please follow the link below and click on Gonzaga Public Interest Law Project:

https://commerce.cashnet.com/lawst

If you have something cool you can do or a family member with a business or if you just want to donate your time and have lunch or dinner with someone, we would love to hear from you! Please email the auction chair Amanda Kaplan at [email protected] or reply to this email if you have anything you would like to donate or if you have any questions or concerns regarding donations or tickets.

02/20/2018

Only 10 days left to purchase your GPILP Auction Tickets. Every dollar that goes to the auction is a dollar that will be given to students like 2L Heidi Keele, who used her GPILP grant to serve with the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office.

"Last summer I had the opportunity to be a legal intern at Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, in the Criminal Division, and I still volunteer as a legal intern there. I performed a wide variety of tasks, including drafting responsive briefs on issues pertaining to the admissibility of scientific evidence, the discoverability of video footage, and the implications of double jeopardy. I also performed legal research regarding the suppression of evidence in a felony assault case involving fi****ms, and use of police testimony in a domestic violence trial where the victim did not testify. I also reviewed driving while suspended cases in order to evaluate whether referral to the diversion program would be appropriate. Additionally, I attended pre-trial and trial proceedings in a variety of felony and misdemeanor cases, and attended witness interviews. As a legal intern at Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office I have been able to observe and be an integral part to many aspects of criminal cases, strengthening my passion for pursuing justice in the public service criminal justice forum."

02/12/2018

Time is running out to purchase your GPILP Auction Ticket! Here is a short example from one of our grant recipients, 2L Jenna Bock who gave 100 hours to Disability Rights Washington.

"I had the privilege of working for Disability Rights Washington’s office here in Spokane. I interned as a legal technical assistance intern providing legal services to individuals with disabilities and their advocates. I provided callers with general information about their legal rights, coached them in strategies about how to become a stronger self-advocate, and used these tools to empower individuals with disabilities in Washington. I was able to gain knowledge in multiple areas of law, for example: education, health, family, property and mental disability law. This was truly an invaluable experience, and I am forever grateful to GPILP for their faith, support and funding."

02/08/2018

Don't forget to vote for the 2018 GPILP HERO Award, voting will close at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

You can vote at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8HNRS9H

The finalists are:
-Rachel Sterett- Senior Deputy Prosecutor at the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office

-Jay McEntire- Trial Attorney for the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho

-Jocelyn Cook- Spokane County Public Defenders Office

-Vanessa Waldref- Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington

Thank you for helping us choose the award recipient from 4 very deserving nominees.

Web survey powered by SurveyMonkey.com. Create your own online survey now with SurveyMonkey's expert certified FREE templates.

02/05/2018

Don't forget to purchase your GPILP Auction Ticket! All of the proceeds go towards the public interest grants we disburse every summer to GU Law students. Here is an example of how these funds helped grant recipient 3L Morgan Lix serve 250 hours with the Federal Defenders.

"The legal system can seem like an overwhelming and terrifying machine to those facing criminal charges. During my time at the Federal Defenders office, I had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated and compassionate legal professionals in the field. My experience made me hopeful that our troubled legal system may someday become more just than it is now, thanks to talented advocates like my coworkers. In my internship, I got to interact with clients, do initial appearances, write and present a motion to the court, conduct client interviews, compose early termination motions, and sharpen my skills in legal research and writing. My favorite part was talking with clients and getting to know them as human beings, rather than just a defendant and case number. It was a good learning opportunity and I got to meet some genuinely amazing people along the way."

01/29/2018

Check out this Grant Recipient Spotlight on Shelby Woehlk, a 3L who worked over 400 hours for Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services over the summer because of her GPILP grant!

"Although I only worked with Catholic Charities for a short time, each and every project made a great impact on my legal education and my passion for advocacy. I was able to work on immigration relief cases for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. I was able to work directly with Spanish language clients interviewing on sensitive topics and gathering information for pleadings. The majority of these cases will take years to adjudicate, but deferred action status grants clients a small amount of peace and security while they wait. Nearly half of the clients I worked with were granted deferred action status and were then able to apply for driver's licenses and work authorization, which helped them to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table. I truly appreciate the integral role Catholic Charities plays within the immigrant communities of Oregon and feel grateful I was able to be a part of a team that substantially advances the notion of social justice while simultaneously improving the quality of life for so many families."

11/13/2017

Don't forget to stop by our table at lunch this week to sign up for a Auction Committee! Board members will be available every day to answer your questions about the different committees are and what help we need from our volunteers. Don't forget this is a great way to get your graduation volunteer hours, and increase your chances of winning a GPILP grant for your summer work!

11/07/2017

Thank you to everyone who attended Payback! this year!!! It was a huge success thanks to our amazing faculty/staff teams and wonderful GPILP board.