For a decade, St. John's Law School's Public Interest Center has been dedicated to its Vincentian mission of serving the greater good through public interest and pro bono work. Recently, the Center introduced its Fellowship Program, led by Director Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, to further enhance these efforts. The program welcomed five students as its first cohort: Justin Gorgchuck '25, Sadia Kauser '25, Sabrina Meristil '25, Bridget Murphy '25, and Hannah Stubbs '26.

"Our Fellowship Program exemplifies the Center's mission of inspiring and cultivating the next generation of lawyers who use their law degrees to drive meaningful change," Ortiz-Ortiz stated. "We created it to expand the Center's leadership capacity while giving outstanding St. John’s Law students the opportunity to develop important leadership skills hands-on."

The Fellows are actively involved in organizing initiatives such as the Spring Break Service Program and Public Interest Auction. They dedicate up to 20 hours a week during the academic year working closely with Ortiz-Ortiz on various tasks including enhancing alumni engagement and managing student pro bono opportunities.

Justin Gorgchuck shared his positive experience: "Through this role, I’ve had the privilege of assisting in initiatives that foster a sense of community among aspiring public interest lawyers and alumni." He noted that these experiences have deepened his understanding of public service and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing justice.

Sadia Kauser also finds her role rewarding: "As a Center Fellow, I’ve gained valuable insights into the administrative aspects of managing pro bono and public interest programs for law students." She aims to continue supporting these goals as an attorney.

For more information about the Public Interest Center Fellowship Program, interested parties can visit the Center’s website or contact Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz directly.