NALP - National Association for Law Placement

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Public Service Section

The Public Service Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or responsibility for advising law students whose career paths lead to public sector, public interest, and pro bono work during law school and after graduation. The section supports NALP's role as one of the leading providers of information and education about public service opportunities for law students and lawyers. NALP's public sector and nonprofit employer members and those responsible for implementing or marketing law school or law firm pro bono programs also participate in this section.

Join Section Group on NALPconnect

2025-26 Section Co-Chairs: Christopher Gerlica, Roger Williams University School of Law and Amy Hsieh, Brooklyn Law School

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members on a track of programming and speakers for the 2026 Annual Education Conference. Assist members with completion of the RFP process. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year.

PSJD Resource Development Work Group
Continue to add and revise educational content on the PSJD website. Prior to developing new educational resources on a particular topic, the Group should investigate whether the resource already exists and, if so, whether PSJD can get permission to copy or link to it (to avoid “reinventing the wheel”).

LRAP Initiatives/CCRAA Developments
Continue to monitor developments and provide analysis about best practices for creating and maximizing a law school LRAP program. Continue to monitor public service loan forgiveness, student debt issues, legislative debate and other proposals that impact legal education and public interest practice. Provide updates to the NALP community via NALPConnect and Bulletin+ articles.

DEI Liaison
The DEI Liaison will identify and address issues related to DEI that are specific to the section and work with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee to address these issues.

Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Section.

2024-25 Section Co-Chairs: Liz Dunn, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Chelsea-Leigh Flucus, UC Irvine School of Law

June 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2024 Board Report (PDF)
February 2025 Board Report (PDF)
March 2025 Board Report (PDF)

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members on a track of programming and speakers for the 2025 Annual Education Conference. Assist members with completion of the RFP process. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year.

PSJD Resource Development Work Group
This group serves as an editorial board for content posted to the PSJD.org website. In collaboration with NALP staff, the Public Service Section’s issue-oriented working groups, and the Knowledge Management and Resource Implementation Advisory Group, continue developing a long-term plan for adding and revising educational content on the PSJD website. Prior to developing new educational resources on a particular topic, the Group should investigate whether the resource already exists and, if so, whether PSJD can get permission to copy or link to it (to avoid “reinventing the wheel”).

Pro Bono Work Group
Continue to work on the plug and play pro bono/public interest curriculum for law students. Working with the Section co-chairs, solicit nominations for the PSJD Pro Bono Publico Awards Continue environmental scanning for remote pro bono opportunities for law students and lawyers. Continue discussions about ensuring equity and inclusion in work with students, lawyers and pro bono clients. Explore collaboration with the ABA on the creation of a pro bono/public interest resource bank so as not to duplicate efforts. Look for opportunities to collaborate with the AALS pro bono section and other NALP sections (Lawyer and Law Student Professional Development) as appropriate.

Publications
Brainstorm about topics for the NALP Bulletin+ and submit proposals. Provide reminders to authors about upcoming submission deadlines. Encourage and facilitate opportunities for section members to write for the PSJD Blog as appropriate and publish in non-NALP publications (such as ABA, NLADA, local bar associations).

DEI Liaison
The DEI Liaison will identify and address issues related to DEI that are specific to the section and work with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee to address these issues.

Employer Relations Work Group
The goals of this work group are to (1) assess ways to increase public interest employer participation in NALP, (2) identify gaps that can be filled to ensure ongoing participation and (3) to develop best practices documents for public interest employers on issues related to hiring.

2023-24 Section Co-Chairs: Jana Matthews, Seattle University School of Law and Jasminder Deol, UC Irvine School of Law

February 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2023 Board Report (PDF)
July 2023 Board Report (PDF)

2022-23 Section Co-Chairs: Michelle Takagishi-Almeida, Southwestern Law School and Jana Matthews, Seattle University School of Law

April 2023 Board Report (PDF)
February 2023 Board Report (PDF)
November 2022 Board Report (PDF)
July 2022 Board Report (PDF)

2021-22 Section Co-Chairs: Sharon Buckingham, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and Claire Cusella, Equal Justice Works

April 2022 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2021 Board Report (PDF)
July 2021 Board Report (PDF)

2020-21 Section Chairs: Lillian Evans, NY City Law Department and Susan Curry, University of Chicago Law School

April 2021 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2020 Board Report (PDF)
July 2020 Board Report (PDF)

2019-20 Section Chair: Rochelle McCain, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

April 2020 Board Report (PDF)
February 2020 Board Report (PDF)
November 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2019 Board Report (PDF)

2018-19 Section Chair: Rashida West, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

April 2019 Board Report (PDF)
February 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2018 Board Report (PDF)