St. John’s Law hosts inaugural Public Interest Intensive for students on March 9
St. John’s Law held its first Public Interest Intensive on March 9, bringing together more than 70 students for a one-day program focused on the foundations of public interest law.
The event was organized by the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center and is part of an expanded effort made possible by a gift from Rose DiMartino and Karen Sue Smith. The program aimed to help students understand how their legal education can be used to increase access to justice and serve communities in need. Center Director Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz said, “We launched the Intensive so our students can better understand how to use their legal training to expand access to justice and make a difference. It gives them space to explore pressing legal issues, learn from alumni working on the front lines, and connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real opportunities to serve communities in need. The Intensive also prepares students for the annual Public Interest Legal Career Fair and gives our Student Fellows a dynamic leadership platform.”
The day included three panel discussions: Sustaining Purpose in Immigration Law, Grounded in Justice from public defenders’ perspectives, and Public Interest Pathways about opportunities and clinical practice. Adjunct Professor Dianne O. Woodburn delivered keynote remarks reflecting on her work as Legal Services Supervisor at JASA|Legal Services for Elder Justice.
Nathan Cao, president of the student-run Immigration Law Society, moderated one of the panels. He said, “I was honored to moderate the Immigration Law panel. It allowed students to hear directly from immigration attorneys about the realities of legal practice, maintaining resilience during these unprecedented times in immigration policy and enforcement, and sustaining purpose through the ups and downs. Students also received practical guidance on how to build and maintain a long and fulfilling career in public interest.”
Elshaday Yeshitila Yilma participated as both an organizer and panelist. She said, “This was a day devoted to the values that brought so many of us here to St. John’s Law. Setting aside this time creates a space for students to connect with one another, to recognize that they’re part of a larger community, and to feel supported in choosing a path rooted in service. It also invites alumni to candidly share about their challenges, triumphs, and the ways they’ve learned to sustain themselves doing such demanding work. By hosting the Intensive, the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center is nurturing a Law School community with a shared commitment to the Center’s mission and values. It’s wonderful to be part of this important effort.”
St. John’s University supports initiatives through its centers focused on multicultural efforts locally and globally according to its official website. The university has campuses in Queens and Manhattan as well as international sites in Rome, Paris, and Limerick according to its official website. St. John’s is affiliated with the Vincentian Community according to its official website and offers more than 100 undergraduate majors across six schools according to its official website. The institution operates as a Catholic Vincentian university dedicated to liberal arts education according to its official website. Rev. Brian J. Shanley has served as president of St. John’s University according to its official website.
The launch of this intensive program reflects ongoing efforts at St. John’s University-New York toward fostering public service among law students.
