Goods and Services Auction to Benefit Law Students Working
in Public Interest Law
On March 11, 2006, the Maryland Public Interest Law Project, Inc. (MPILP)
at the University of Maryland School of Law will host its Annual Goods and
Services Auction. The Auction celebrates public interest law and raises funds
to provide $4,000 grants to law students who wish to spend their summer at
public interest agencies providing either direct legal services to low-income
individuals or addressing legal issues affecting the public interest. All of
the auction proceeds are applied to MPILP's summer grant program which has
supported recipients in endeavors such as assisting low-income persons in rent
court, helping battered spouses file protection orders and secure social services,
and assisting low-income HIV patients with applying for disability and health
benefits. Grant recipients have worked at agencies such as the Legal Aid Bureau,
the Office of the Public Defender, the Children's Defense Fund, the American
Civil Liberties Union, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Mexican American
Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).
The Auction typically draws 250-500 guests from the legal and greater Baltimore
community to a fantastic night which includes sinful amounts of catered hors
de oeuvres and desserts, excellent music, three silent auctions and an
exciting live auction. Items for bid in the past have included a range of gifts
from exotic dessert baskets and dinner with University of Maryland law professors
to airline tickets, beach house time-shares, wine-tasting and artwork. Last
year, the success of the auction helped support 19 summer grantees in the public
interest field.
A 501(c)(3) student-run organization, MPILP is dedicated to increasing awareness
of, possibilities for and participation in public interest legal work. MPILP
educates students about opportunities to practice public interest law, creates
and reinforces commitment to public interest law and encourages the pro-bono
efforts of law firms. The Annual Goods and Services Auction is the primary
means by which MPILP supports and encourages students in this legal field.
So please join MPILP, the University of Maryland School of Law and the Baltimore
community by attending the Auction on March 11th. Tickets can be purchased
at the door for $35 and include food and drinks, silent and live bidding, and
great company – all for a great cause. The festivities kick off at 5:30
p.m. at the School of Law, 500 W. Baltimore St., with the first silent auction
ending at 7:30 p.m., the second at 8:00 p.m., and the third at 8:30 p.m. The
live auction will begin promptly at 9:00 p.m.
If you are interested in donating to the Auction or MPILP or would like more
information, please contact Alex Freemire, Co-President of MPILP, at afree001@umaryland.edu or
(410) 706-8393, or e-mail Lauren Calhoun, Co-Publicity Director, at lcalh002@umaryland.edu.
You may also visit our website at www.law.umaryland.edu/studentorg/mpilp for
up-to-the-minute news on what exciting items will be available at this year's
auction and much more!
