{"id":57108,"date":"2017-03-07T22:21:39","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T08:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=57108"},"modified":"2020-03-12T13:35:47","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T23:35:47","slug":"law-school-gala-supports-pro-bono-student-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2017\/03\/07\/law-school-gala-supports-pro-bono-student-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Law school gala supports pro bono student work"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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The 2016 Advocates for Public Interest Law Gala<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An organization of William S. Richardson School of Law<\/a> students dedicated to providing assistance to those who cannot afford legal help is holding its 7th Annual Fundraising Gala<\/a> March 9, 5:30–9 p.m. at the Laniakea YWCA<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

The event, sponsored by Advocates for Public Interest Law<\/a> (APIL<\/abbr>) will include pupu, drinks, entertainment and a live and silent auction.<\/p>\n

Proceeds from the gala will go toward providing summer grants for law students doing pro bono work for non-profit public interest law firms and agencies serving traditionally underserved groups. For law students with a passion for social justice, the APIL<\/abbr> summer grants offer a chance to work in areas to make the most impact.<\/p>\n

“The grant really opens up doors for students to explore non-profit work and give back to our community,” said Janjeera Hail<\/strong> one of this year’s event organizers and a 2016 grantee. “The work I did at the Domestic Violence Action Center last summer would not have been possible if it had not been for APIL<\/abbr>.”<\/p>\n

Since its founding in 1985, APIL<\/abbr> has awarded 145 summer grants to law students doing free legal work. These students have provided more than 40,000 free “billable hours” to more than 30 non-profit organizations that directly assist a wide variety of people in need, including immigrants, homeless individuals and families and victims of elder abuse, domestic violence and sex trafficking.<\/p>\n

Law school Dean Avi Soifer<\/a><\/strong> said, “Year after year, some of our most exceptional students serve as the leaders of APIL<\/abbr>, and their hard work and the generosity of our community leads directly to legal assistance for people who are most in need.”<\/p>\n

The 2017 student grantees will be recognized at the gala, and there will be award presentations to a number of firms, organizations and individuals to honor their work promoting advocacy and increasing access to justice for Hawaiʻi<\/span>’s marginalized populations.<\/p>\n

Additional information<\/h2>\n