PILI and D.C. Bar Fellowships To provide valuable experience for new associates, DLA Piper sponsors Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellows and D.C. Bar Fellows. These pro bono programs place incoming associates with public interest organizations in their respective cities for 10-week fellowships.
Over the past few years, the firm has sponsored PILI and DC Bar fellows at the following organizations:
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. Amanda Jones (Chicago) coordinated employment and mortgage lending discrimination cases at this public interest law consortium that addresses employment opportunity, fair housing, and bias-based violence. “The daily work of the Lawyers’ Committee is so essential, not just for making a difference to individual clients, but also raising public awareness of civil rights violations and lobbying effectively for legislative change,” commented Amanda.
Archdiocesan Legal Network of Catholic Charities Claudio Ochoa* (Washington, D.C.) assisted this agency, which matches pro bono attorneys with low-income residents, many of whom are recent immigrants who speak little or no English. “The most valuable part of the fellowship came from my interaction with ALN’s clients,” Claudio said. “It is eye-opening to meet a family of three that is living off of a household income of $20,000 a year in D.C. This exposure will serve as a reminder of how great the need is for pro bono legal services.”
The Children’s Law Center (CLC) Taron Murakami* (Washington D.C.) helped CLC’s Health Access Project (HAP) overcome non-medical barriers to health for low-income children. “It can be hard for parents to navigate the bureaucracy on their own, and it feels good to know that I have helped children get the services they need,” Taron said.
*Claudio and Taron have since left the firm to pursue other opportunities.