20th Annual Howard B. Eisenberg Do-Gooders’ Auction–An Interview with PILS Fellow Maria Lopez

The 20th Annual Howard B. Eisenberg Do-Gooders’ Auction on behalf of the Law School’s Public Interest Law Society (PILS) will be held on February 15, 2013 at the Law School. Proceeds from the event go to support PILS Fellowships to enable Marquette law students to do public interest work in the summer. Maria Lopez, a current law student, shares her experience here as a PILS Fellow.

Where did you work as a PILS Fellow?

I interned with the Illinois Migrant Legal Assistance Project (IMLAP) at their office in Rantoul, Illinois.

What kind of work did you do there?

IMLAP’s mission is to advocate on behalf migrant agricultural workers and educate them on their rights as workers. My duties included outreach to workers at their housing or work sites, collaboration with local agencies such as Migrant Head Start and the Department of Human Services, and meeting with employers on behalf of our clients.

How was the experience meaningful to you?

My experience with IMLAP was meaningful because it provided me with an opportunity to work closely with great people–not only my clients, but also my supervisors and coworkers, as well as other agency representatives, all of whom were very supportive.

What did you learn in the course of your work?

I learned a great deal about the laws applicable to migrant agricultural workers and about the benefits they are excluded from receiving simply because they are agricultural workers. In developing relationships with my clients, I also discovered that many times what they want does not have a legal remedy. Frequently, they just want to be heard by someone who cares.

What do you like best about doing public interest law work?

Public interest work is something I am passionate about because I feel I am able to connect with clients and help them in a real way. I know the impact of my work extends beyond the individual client; it also impacts their family and in some cases, the larger community.

What are you doing to help with the PILS Auction?

As the PILS Thanksgiving Dinner Chair, my involvement with the PILS Auction has been somewhat limited, but I plan on serving as a volunteer at the Auction.

 

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Kris

    Public interest work is great opportunity to learn new things and connect with clients.

  2. Olumide Oluwasegun

    Public interest work and duties help a person to re-evaluate his beliefs and principles in view of the current standard of people’s day to day living if they hold water.

  3. Alam Alrul

    Public interest work is important for branding a company, adding confidence for customers and decreasing turnover.

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