In 2025, generous donors made this possible:
Join the PILS Giving Challenge: Make a Gift
The Public Interest Law Society (PILS) is a student organization that works to support law students interested in exploring careers in public interest law. Fellows are supported by the annual PILS Giving Challenge Days donors.
The Students and Organizations Your Gift Supports
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John Achkar At Beyond Legal Aid in Chicago, I gained valuable experience on immigration and housing law matters. I worked one-on-one with clients to help preserve their housing and successfully assisted three clients in avoiding eviction. |
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Sophia Bern There are laws in place meant to protect both landlords and tenants. Throughout my summer at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, I saw first-hand that although landlords often have advocates at their hearings that are using the law on their behalf, tenants often do not have legal support or counsel. Being able to work on behalf of clients who would otherwise face their eviction hearings alone made my summer at the Legal Aid Society incredibly rewarding. |
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Tyler Crass My time as a PILS Fellow with the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee's immigration team this summer encouraged me to be compassionate and innovative in my legal arguments and research during a time where the law was not particularly friendly to the immigrant communities we were trying to reach and serve. |
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Sara Erickson This summer I had the privilege of working alongside prosecutors who prioritized the safety of the public while upholding the rights of each and every defendant, regardless of their background. I appeared on the record under the student practice rule for plea and sentencing, initial appearances, jury trials, bench trials, and status conferences. Witnessing the impact of prosecutorial discretion in real time expanded my knowledge of the criminal justice system that I would not have gained inside the classroom alone. |
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Ryan Hagan “If you want peace, work for justice.” Every day at Legal Aid, I sat across from a poster depicting this quote. Beside those words, diverse hands grasped a gavel with a dove perched on top. The message kept me motivated, reminding me why my work mattered. Throughout the summer, I practiced my research and writing and myriad consumer protection fact patterns, I devised creative answers to questions presented, carefully reviewed documents, and filtered relevant information for my supervisors. I will keep pursuing justice, so that some measure of peace may thrive in my community. |
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Dalton Hein My summer at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office was transformative. Researching consumer protection issues and drafting memorandums for senior litigators deepened my legal skills and passion for public service. Engaging in high-level case discussions showed me the power of advocacy in safeguarding Arizona consumers. My PILS fellowship allowed me to make a meaningful impact while growing as a future lawyer committed to justice. |
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Owen Jackson With a goal of gaining experience advocating for and empowering workers, my time at the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters exceeded my expectations. Exposure to collective bargaining, sitting at the table alongside union members and observing negotiating tactics, was an incredible experience. Learning about the construction industry from a union and in-house legal team who are pioneering the movement to reform was invaluable. This experience broadened my focus to include workers that are deliberately secluded from the protection of labor laws. |
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Cim Lee As a summer fellow I was able to directly make an impact in the lives of others in need of help. While strengthening my legal research skills and gaining crucial courtroom experience, I solidified my passion for being an attorney. My time at Legal Action of Wisconsin portrayed the importance of providing a voice for the ones who need it the most. |
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Nuha McDiarmid Kids Matter Inc.'s slogan is "every child needs someone in their corner", and this was absolutely exemplified by the work of their attorneys and staff. At my summer internship I learned how to approach and solve community-wide issues with creative legal solutions. This experience gave me the confidence as well as the skills to pursue a career in the juvenile legal field. |
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Andrew Ochoa My experience at Legal Action of Wisconsin allowed me to passionately advocate for people in difficult situations. Specifically, I helped clients seal their eviction records to obtain adequate housing which was fulfilling and rewarding. |
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Cora Olsen My summer interning at Holloman Air Force Base provided me with invaluable experience and insight into life as a military lawyer. I was able to meaningfully contribute to the mission of the Air Force by assisting retired service members prepare estate documents and helping attorneys prepare for trial. This summer allowed me to discover a passion for military justice and a drive to help active and retired service members in my future legal career. |
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Emmy Pagel This summer, I worked with the Milwaukee Housing Project at Legal Action of Wisconsin, where I assisted tenants in securing necessary repairs and overcoming obstacles to safe, affordable housing. The experience strengthened my confidence in applying what I’ve learned in law school to real-world situations and highlighted the importance of legal aid work. |
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Roshani Patel Through the PILS fellowship I had the opportunity to learn about eviction defense. It was motivating to see attorneys ensure that the legal system does not take advantage of vulnerable members of the community. It also showed me how different parts of the law intersect because landlord tenant law combines property law with contract law. |
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Blair Remington I am so grateful to have received the PILS Fellowship to work with LOTUS this summer. The staff at LOTUS work so hard to support victims of sexual assault and human trafficking. I learned so much from them and have chosen to continue to work with them moving into the semester. The work they do really makes an impact. |
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Katie Rickert Through the PILS Fellowship, I had the privilege of working at Legal Action with the Elder Rights Project, helping older adults in Wisconsin who have experienced abuse and financial exploitation navigate the legal system. Whether I was drafting court motions or assisting with estate planning, every task felt meaningful because it supported someone’s journey toward safety and stability. It was humbling to be trusted with their stories and rewarding to see how legal tools can empower people to build a more secure future. This experience affirmed my commitment to a career in public interest and human rights law. |
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Annie Tate At Disability Rights Wisconsin, I got to witness the hope and freedom that crime victims with disabilities can experience when they are informed of their rights and those rights are enforced. |
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Joshua Trembly The work I did with the Eviction Free Milwaukee team at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee brought hope to underserved communities. Organizations such as the Legal Aid Society ensure that the legal system does not take advantage of those without the funds to hire an attorney and I feel blessed to be part of that mission. |
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Ryan Vazquez At the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office, I gained a tremendous amount of experience while serving my hometown community. I had the opportunity to appear on behalf of the State in various hearings, and I also had the incredible opportunity to learn from some fantastic prosecutors. |
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Heather Walla At the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, I learned from expert attorneys who are deeply passionate about serving some of the most vulnerable members of our community. At the Milwaukee Trial and Waukesha’s Juvenile and Mental Health Division, I witnessed firsthand that zealous advocacy takes many forms—and that an attorney’s personalized, trauma-informed approach can offer clients stability and a meaningful chance to move forward. |
