The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) at BC Law is getting another boost from a stalwart supporter, the Cummings Foundation. Cummings Foundation Trustee Robert Keefe ’72 visited campus to deliver a $40,000 check, which will support PILF in funding stipends for law students working in unpaid pro bono legal services internships during their first and second summers.
“The contribution will allow the organizations the students work with to expand their capacity to serve clients and communities in need of legal representation,” said public interest and pro bono program director Michelle Grossfield. “As a result, the students will gain valuable legal skills and a deep appreciation and understanding for the critical need for lawyers in public service and pro bono.”
The latest contribution to BC Law from the Cummings Foundation comes on top of a recent $225,000 from the foundation in support of PILF.
“The Cummings Foundation’s consistent support over recent years has been so important in strengthening BC Law’s capacity to serve disadvantaged communities, which is such a crucial part of our mission,” said Odette Lienau, the Marianne D. Short, Esq., Dean at BC Law. “This donation to PILF helps ensure that public interest law remains open to all our students—financial circumstances notwithstanding—and illustrates the foundation’s ongoing dedication to helping others in need.”
The Cummings Foundation’s founders, Joyce M. and William S. Cummings, were presented this year at Boston College’s commencement with honoris causa degrees in recognition of their philanthropy in support of education, health, and community outreach.
The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) is a community of public interest-minded students, faculty, and practitioners at Boston College Law School. It has at its heart a belief that legal education should be utilized to advance the greater good and that all students should have the opportunity to pursue a path of service. It encourages the exploration of numerous legal avenues by broadening access to inclusive public service opportunities, while striving for the financial security of every student using their legal degree for positive change.