The Public Interest Law Society (PILS) is a student organization that works to support law students interested in exploring careers in public interest law. One primary goal of PILS is to raise funds for public interest law fellowships. Fellows are supported by the annual PILSgiving Challenge Days donors.
In 2024-25, generous donors made it possible for:
25 law student fellows to provide
over 8,900 hours of legal aid
at 16 nonprofit and government agencies
valued at over $1,335,000.
Join the PILSgiving Challenge: Make a Gift
Meet Our 2024 PILS Fellows |
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Morgan Bandy My time on the Special Education Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction was one of the most rewarding experiences in my professional career thus far. Knowing the work I was doing benefits the experiences and education of special education students in public schools for years to come is an indescribable feeling. I am grateful to PILS and to the Department of Public Instruction for allowing me to help make a difference for an often-overlooked community in the State of Wisconsin. |
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Andrea Bishop This summer, I helped ensure that tenants facing Small Claims Court eviction proceedings were able to maintain housing security, tenant’s rights, and their dignity in court. Representing individuals in front of both the Court Commissioners and the Judge, I helped dozens of individuals reach agreements with landlords and seal their CCAP records, allowing them the opportunity to secure safe and stable future housing. |
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Alana Borman After losing a loved one to homelessness, the work I did at Legal Action allowed me to understand the difficulties that come with housing insecurity and the court system. Anyone can experience eviction or inadequate housing; many cannot navigate it without help. In each client I worked with I felt an immense sense of accomplishment when homelessness was prevented, and I was able to see my loved one in each of them. |
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Leah Carter “Prevent the wrong. Uphold the right.” These words are painted on the halls of the Kenosha County Courthouse and embody the impact the DA’s office has on protecting Wisconsin communities and enforcing justice. From reviewing discovery and drafting criminal complaints, to going on the record for anything from the preliminary hearing to sentencing in misdemeanor and felony matters, I was able to participate in nearly every step of the criminal process with the support and mentorship of the talented attorneys of the Kenosha DA’s office. |
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Evelyn Cervantes This summer I had the privilege of interning at Centro Legal and worked alongside very passionate attorneys. Centro Legal’s mission is amazing as they help the low-income and marginalized individuals in our community. |
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Jonathan Contreras My time at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee was rewarding because it allowed me to gain valuable experiences that I will carry forward in my legal career. I gained courtroom experience and strengthened my writing skills through conducting legal research and through drafting memos for the attorneys. This experience strengthened my passion for social justice and allowed me to make a difference in the Milwaukee community. |
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Abby Cornehls As a PILS fellow at the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, I played a role in holding citizens accountable for engaging in illegal conduct. It was an engaging and eye-opening experience working with prosecutors who, daily, must balance the need to protect the public, the character of the defendant, and the gravity of the offense when prosecuting crimes. I appeared on the record under the Student Practice Rule in misdemeanor and out-of-custody court for pleas and sentencings, status conferences, jury trials, deferred prosecution agreement hearings, and initial appearances. |
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Tyler Crass Working as a PILS Fellow at Legal Action of Wisconsin exposed me to many different types of law and instilled in me a confidence I did not know I could develop over a few months. My fellowship also reminded me of the immense importance of public interest work in my community, and I am honored to have positively contributed to the lives of my clients this summer. |
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Scout Devoti As a law clerk at RENEW, I aided in advocating for renewable energy in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has the goal of becoming 100 percent carbon-free by 2050. If met, this goal would significantly reduce carbon emissions and benefit both Wisconsin residents and our environment. This summer, I was thrilled to work on cases that advocated for the construction of solar farms and pushed to make renewable energy more accessible. |
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Erika Escamilla My time at Legal Action of Wisconsin was very rewarding. I worked primarily with pardons and expungements and was able to help individuals facing barriers to employment tell their stories and assist them in pursuing future careers and other opportunities. |
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Sydney Gang As a summer fellow, I had the opportunity to represent clients and draft motions using the Student Practice Rule with Legal Action of Wisconsin. My work with the firm and the Eviction Defense Project helped prevent homelessness for families who otherwise wouldn’t have had legal representation. |
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Adiya Golden Working at the Milwaukee Justice Center was a transformative experience that deepened my commitment to public interest law. Assisting clients who lacked the resources for legal representation and helping them navigate the complexities of the court system was both challenging and rewarding. It reinforced my belief that access to justice should be a right, not a privilege, and fueled my passion for advocating for those who are often overlooked in our legal system. |
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Abigail Heinz As a PILS fellow at the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, I was able to live out the District Attorney’s mission of doing the right thing through fair and just prosecution of criminal offenses. In my time as an intern, I worked with the Violent Crimes Unit on Milwaukee County gun cases while ensuring that all those who come in contact with the criminal justice system were treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. |
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Harly Johnson As a Summer Fellow, I worked alongside 11 other 1L interns in the 4th District Attorney’s Office in Colorado Springs, CO.I assisted prosecutors in preparing for for court and learned the intricacies of the criminal justice system from the inside. |
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Michael Klein My experience at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office was an enriching experience that allowed me to work closely with attorneys on a variety of matters, including rendering and reviewing discovery, working with victims, as well as assisting with plea negotiations and detention hearings. |
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Samuel Lavey During my time with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage, Alaska, I contributed to efforts aimed at protecting the community from drug conspiracies, fraud, violent crime, and the illegal poaching of protected wildlife, including grizzly bears. This experience provided me with invaluable skills and left a lasting impact on my own legal practice. Witnessing how the law is enforced while ensuring justice was both insightful and inspiring. I am deeply grateful for the PILS fellowship, which made this incredible opportunity possible. |
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Morgan Millar I was drawn to an internship with the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office because I am passionate about the principle of justice and upholding due process under the law. Throughout the summer, I helped create a safer and more secure society through legal advocacy by holding offenders accountable and partnering with defense attorneys in striving for fair outcomes in the pursuit of justice. At the close of that internship, I found that I loved my experience so much that now, I will be staying through the fall and will be returning to work in the summer. |
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Emily O’Fallon Working with the lawyers at GWAAR this summer demonstrated to me the importance of elder law and disability law. I knew I was making a difference each time I spoke with a client. |
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Anna Pyle My work at Legal Action of Wisconsin allowed me to level the playing field in Small Claims Court. Instead of clients going up against opposing attorneys without representation, we were able to represent them and ensure their cases were treated fairly. There is nothing more rewarding than helping clients who need it the most. |
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Caitlin Schmitt During my summer with the Domestic Violence Unit, I got to see how the criminal justice system changes the lives of both survivors of domestic violence and their families. I learned so much about the challenges that survivors face as well as how hard it can be to prove these horrific incidents to a group of twelve individuals – the jury. Additionally, my experience at the Milwaukee DA’s Office gave me the opportunity to participate in many different hearings and second chair trials. These opportunities gave me a front row seat to the complex workings of the justice system. |
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Rachel Seifert Military defense work challenged me to think outside of the box and be legally creative when strategizing how to best support each soldier facing a military justice or administrative separation action. My summer with the Trial Defense Service gave me valuable insight into both civilian and military criminal defense, as well as a career in the JAG Corps. |
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Mia Stevenson I loved the work that I did this summer at Coast to Coast Legal Aid. It was an incredible opportunity to give back to the community I was born and raised in. My experience helped me strengthen practical skills while reinforcing my interest in family law. |
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Mark Tomlinson As a summer fellow, I worked at Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services. My favorite part of this experience was working with people to apply for their green cards and naturalization. To be a part of their stories inspired me to continue my law career and to help others to reach their goals and achieve justice. |
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Evan Williams At the Kenosha County DA’s Office this summer I had the opportunity to help victims fight for justice in the County of Kenosha. I spent the summer in court appearing for the State in motion hearings, sentencing hearings, and even traffic trials. This experience was a fantastic way to gain litigation experience. |
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Zachariah Zierson I made a difference this summer by assisting the Department of Homeland Security in its mission to uphold the laws of the U.S. with regards to immigrants, refugees, and noncitizens. I learned how the government seeks to enforce immigration laws while also having the discretion to consider every individual’s case to better work towards justice. |
