Public Interest Corner
New Staff Members Focus on Public Interest and Pro Bono
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Emily Shubkagel, Anna Marshall and Suzanne Hill of the Career Development Office.
Photo by Claire Duggan
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GW Law School recently increased its commitment to encouraging students to pursue public interest careers and to engage in pro bono activities by adding staff members dedicated to helping students achieve their public service goals.
The Career Development Office welcomed two new staff members who devote a substantial amount of time to helping students take advantage of public interest and pro bono opportunities. Anna Marshall, the pro bono liaison, counsels students interested in volunteering legal services and works to develop new pro bono opportunities. Emily Shubkagel, a program assistant, works with outside placement and public interest projects. Suzanne Hill, in her third year at GW as a career counselor, recently took over the public interest liaison position from Jim Lovelace, who held the position for the past four years. Hill focuses much of her time on public interest career counseling for students interested in both short-and long-term public interest opportunities.
Events Update
In October, GW Law hosted the 2004 NALP/PSLawNet Public Service Committee Meeting and Public Service MiniConference. The event, followed by the two-day Equal Justice Conference and Career Fair, kicked off three days of public interest events in Washington. Participants from 69 law schools and several public interest employers attended the events that provided information sessions, an awards luncheon, and networking opportunities.
Throughout the school year, GW Law’s pro bono and public interest coordinators present programming to inform students about various opportunities. In November, the Career Development Office sponsored a Public Interest Week, with events that attracted more than 100 students.
In addition to programming, the CDO sponsors and prepares students for a number of public service recruitment activities.
In early October, GW hosted the annual Pro Bono Fair. Employers and organizations spoke with students about public service, and students signed up to volunteer legal services. This year marked a record number of provider participants. Also in October, students participated in the Equal Justice Works Career Fair, where they interviewed and networked with public interest employers. Additionally, there were several panels offered for both students and law school professionals.
Several alumni participated in the panels, including Jon Rapping, JD ’95, Susie Hoffman JD ’79, and Deborah Cuevas, JD ’04.
In February 2005, GW and Georgetown will co-sponsor the annual Public Interest/ Government Interview Program. The CDO will also host its 7th Annual Government Internship Fair this February.
More events and programming are planned for the coming year. Anyone interested in getting involved in upcoming programs and events should contact Suzanne Hill or Anna Marshall at (202) 994-7340.
Student Receives Honor
George C. Wu, a second-year law student, has an impressive resume in the public interest field. He recently was appointed to the Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee, where he will co-chair the committee for one year. He also was appointed to the Asian-Pacific American Legal Resource Center’s board of directors. He currently serves on that organization’s strategic planning committee. His list of other public interest activities includes serving as a staff member of the National Council of Asian-Pacific Americans, a national coalition of 21 Asian-Pacific American groups, which represents the national voice on APA issues. Prior to attending law school, Wu served as the program assistant and Legal Interpreter Project coordinator for the APALRC in Washington.
