Auction raises money for 25 law students

Public Interest Law Foundation to sell 'L.A.-type' items for event to garner grant funds

By ERIN SZYMANSKI
Staff Writer
Going once, going twice, sold! It is bidding time again tonight at the Public Interest Law Foundation's 10th annual auction, which raises money to provide grants to USC law students who wish to gain experience in the field of public interest law during the summer.
PILF is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide legal representation to members of the community that couldn't otherwise afford legal assistance. The auction is the law school's social event of the year and the organization's biggest fundraiser.
"The auction is PILF's major fundraiser of the year to make money to provide students grants for the summer and one year-long fellowship to a graduating student who is planning to pursue a career in public interest law," said Michelle Fowler, a second-year law student and one of the auction co-chairs.
This year's auction has a Hollywood theme. Some of the items on the auction block include a Planet Hollywood jacket autographed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the pilot script from The Practice signed by the entire cast, tickets to a Hollywood premiere on June 14, opportunities to view the making of a music video and a behind-the-scenes taping of Judge Judy.
"We try to keep a law theme with at least some of the items," Fowler said.
Sports fans will also have plenty to bid on because tickets to games of just about every sports team in Los Angeles are available, including tickets to USC games. There is even a piece of the Laker's floor board up for bids.
While surrounding businesses and the Holly- wood community donated most of the items, professors at the law school have also donated their time and money for the fundraiser.
For instance, one professor is planning on auctioning a 1950s-style dinner party at his house, and another is offering to take three students sailing in Long Beach.
The law school's dean is donating a two-day cruise to Catalina Island, Fowler said.
"This is the law school's big get-together," said Michael Ar-menta, a second-year law student and the communication chair for the auction. "Student, faculty, staff and alumni all come. It is a forum for everyone to meet up."
While the auction does serve as an opportunity to have some fun and bid on items, organizers said that the real winner in the experience is the community.
"Even though the money goes to grants and fellowships, the ultimate winner is the community because the money raised at the auction allows volunteers to help those who would not be able to afford legal assistance otherwise," Fowler said.
The auction brings in enough money for PILF to provide one yearlong fellowship and between 20 and 25 grants to students interested in practicing public interest law. Since most of the agencies that practice public interest law are non-profit agencies, they can't afford to pay the law students who work for them during the summer.
Through fundraising PILF is able to provide $4,000 grants to these students so that they don't have to take out additional loans or work in jobs that pay but are unrelated to the field of law.
Armenta is one of the students who benefited from a PILF grant last summer. He worked for the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice in the housing division, which is a non-profit agency that provides service to low-income clients who can't afford legal representation from an attorney.
"Students may be interested in public interest law, but most agencies can't afford to pay them," Armenta said. "PILF is able to provide grants for the students so they can gain experience, help the community, and still be able to pay their rent. I would have been another $5000 in debt if it wasn't for the grant."
Armenta stressed how important it is for students to gain legal experience during the summer because that is what future employers are looking for. However, there are very few paid opportunities available for first-year law students.
"PILF is actually the law school's biggest summer employer, especially for first-year students, because it provides about $80,000 to $90,000 to these students in the form of grants," Armenta said.
The grant process is fairly competitive, with about 40 students applying for the 20 to 25 grants available. However, PILF always tries to stretch the money as far as it will go, Fowler said.
"PILF has given out over 220 grants in 10 years, and it tries to increase the number of grants it gives each year," Fowler said.
To be eligible for a grant, law students must volunteer between four and six hours to the PILF organization and 10 hours to some area of public interest law.
They must then write an essay, fill out an application, find their own public interest law job and undergo an interview with members of the PILF board, faculty and alumni.
Applicants also must apply for work study to try and help supplement the PILF grant so that PILF can use its money to provide as many grants as possible, Armenta said.
While the process may seem a bit complex, student participants said that the summer experience was worth it.
"I definitely enjoyed my experience," Armenta said. "It was a good way for me to help the community, gain experience and get paid."
Antonella Nistorescu, a second year law student and pro bono co-chair of PILF, used a PILF Summer Grant to work at Public Counsel, a public interest firm, last summer. She interned for their Immigrants' Rights Project and worked on political asylum cases and adjustment of immigration petitions under the Violence Against Women Act.
"I had an extremely productive and rewarding summer," she said. "The atmosphere at public interest firms is very different from that at private law firms. Public interest lawyers are usually doing their jobs because they are passionate about the work, not for the money, and it shows in their (enthusiastic) attitudes.
"My supervising attorneys were incredibly dedicated individuals who came into the office every day to try to improve the lives of others who are disempowered."
Because the auction is PILF's major fundraiser for the upcoming summer grants, students are hoping and predicting that this year's event will again be a big success.
"I think the auction is going to be fabulous," said Lisa Ruesch, a first-year law student. "There are some really terrific, really Los Angeles-type items up for bid."
Fowler said he is also predicting success.
"There are more donation and more interesting donations this year than in previous years," Fowler said. "There has been a lot of interest from the students and the professors. The economy is doing well and people are in a spending mood."
Organizers are expecting be-tween 350 and 500 people at the function, which will be held at Town and Gown.
Live entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m., the silent auction starts at 5:45 p.m. and the live auction starts at 7:30 p.m. Food and drink will be available, and everyone is welcome to attend. The cost is $5.

Copyright 2000 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 139, No. 28 (Wednesday, February 23, 2000), beginning on page 1 and ending on page 8.