BC Law’s Public Interest Celebration honors public interest work while raising money for future stipends. In addition to food, drinks, and the mounting excitement over the raffle drawing, the March 26 event recognized two distinguished attorneys, as well as spotlighted student work in clinics and summer internships.
The 38th annual gathering took place with several notable changes, starting with its new location. “In previous years, it’s been on the main campus, which has made it a less accessible event for students and alumni alike,” explained Katie Ovoian ’27, vice president of the celebration. “At Barat House, we were able to come together on the Law School’s campus to celebrate public interest law at BC.”
Furthering the goal of accessibility, the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) leadership decided on one more major shift—to replace the traditional auction format with a raffle. “The choice was driven by a desire to center public interest work and to create equitable, fair opportunities for students of all economic statuses to participate in professor experiences,” PILF co-president Samantha Raymond said. Participants could purchase any number of raffle tickets and enter them to win prizes ranging from activities with professors—such as hikes, disc golf, a sherry tasting with Dean Odette Lineau—to items like wine baskets, dinners for two, and Red Sox tickets.
Raymond and PILF co-president Audrey Vila presented the Justice Geraldine Hines Award for Racial Justice to Theresa Wilson, president-elect of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and a former assistant attorney general in New York and Massachusetts, for advancing racial justice and equity throughout her career. They also presented the Alumni Award to Heather Arroyo ’17, in recognition of her work in immigration law.
Throughout the room, posters spotlighted students dedicated to public interest and their experiences with clinics and internships through BC Law. “The public interest celebration was such a beautiful way to honor and highlight the work of BC Law students as well as alumni,” Raymond said. “I was overwhelmed with pride and inspiration as I listened to the speeches the awardees gave and viewed the student spotlights.”
Every room was packed with faculty, staff, and students, bringing together those serving in public interest and those supporting it. “The 2026 celebration embodied the joy and solidarity that is possible when law students and lawyers support each other in using their training and skills to serve others,” said Michelle Grossfield, director of the public interest and pro bono program. PILF carries out the mission of BC Law by serving, as Grossfield put it, as the heart of the campus public interest community.
For Raymond, PILF’s solidarity was encapsulated in one particular moment: when they announced which of the Law School’s three class sections had purchased the most raffle tickets, “Before we announced the winners, each section cheered and we physically heard the power of everyone’s collective voices as they united to champion public interest,” she said.
“People in law school often talk about the sacrifices of public interest work but rarely mention its countless rewards,” Vila added. “For me, those rewards start with the people it brings together.”
Photographs by Andres Leiva ’26
