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THURSDAY October 25th, 2007 - First Annual UBSPI Wine and Cheese Networking event

October saw the inauguration of the first annual UBSPI Wine and Cheese Networking Event.  As is most likely apparent to the vast majority of readers (although perhaps not to those students who took evidence this semester), wine and cheese were involved, as were a number of Public Interest employers in Maryland, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Women's Law Center, SALI, and the Attorney General's office. We were also fortunate to have quite a few faculty members in attendance, including Dean Closius. Accommodations were courtesy of University of Baltimore. Lampshades and shaving cream were provided by CSI.



UBSPI Presents Public Interest Week Spring 2007

TUESDAY February 6th, 2007- UBSPI Grant Writing Workshop - LC 203

This is a mandatory meeting for all students interested in receiving UBSPI grants for Summer 2007. This meeting will cover what to expect from summer work, the basics of the grant writing process, and applying for a job. UBSPI grants provide students with a stipend of $4000 to work at otherwise unpaid positions in non-profit organizations. For questions, please email ubspi@hotmail.com.

WEDNESDAY February 7th, 2007 - ILS and UBSPI Present Judge Martha Rasin

Judge Rasin will be speaking to students and guests about public interest law and her unique international perspective. The talk will be accompanied by lunch and refreshments. A 1981 graduate and of the University of Baltimore School of Law, Judge Rasin has been a sitting judge in Maryland's District Courts since 1989. She has conducted studies of European courts and lectured in Swaziland and South Africa. Judge Rasin has been the recipient of awards from the Women's Law Center of Maryland, Maryland Family Violence Counsel and the Maryland Network Against Family Violence. She has been named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women and received the Resolution of Honor from the Maryland State Bar Association. ILS and UBSPI are proud to welcome Judge Rasin as part of the ILS Student Conversation Series and the UBSPI Public Interest Week.

WEDNESDAY, February 7, 2007 - The First 100: A look at the Changing Face of Maryland and National Politics

The UB Democrats, UB Republicans, OUT Law, Jewish Law Students Association and UBSPI are hosting the public panel discussion, "The First 100: A Look at the Changing Face of Maryland and National Politics" on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007 from 7-9pm. The talk will be in the University of Baltimore Student Center Theater (5th floor of Student Center) Questions will be taken from the audience. The event will be followed by catered reception.
Featured speakers:

Moderated by Prof. of Law Gilda Daniels,
- Antigone Davis, Campaign Coordinator for Doug Gansler for Attorney General in 2007
- Audra Miller, Director of Communications for the Maryland GOP
- Patt Parker, President of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women
- Ferrier Stillman, Co-Chair of the Voter Protection Program in Baltimore City
- Derek Walker, Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party
- Steven Whisler, Former Governor Ehrlich campaign director for the 10th legislative district

THURSDAY February 8th - PUBLIC INTEREST JOB FAIR On Thursday, February 8, 2007, the University of Baltimore School of Law and the University of Maryland School of Law will hold a Public Interest Career Fair here at the University of Baltimore. Public Interest employers from throughout the state will be available to speak with interested students about summer and permanent job opportunities. The Career Fair will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 pm in the Thummel Business Center atrium. Once the list of employers is complete, I will make this list available at our website. Keep in mind that if obtain a position from one of these employers, you may be eligible to apply for a public interest grant through the University of Baltimore Students for Public Interest (UBSPI) for work that you do over the summer.


Susan Goering Named Recipient of Third Annual Robert M. Bell Award for Leadership in Public Service Susan Goering, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, will receive the Robert M. Bell Award for Leadership in Public Service during a special ceremony on Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. The event, part of the annual silent and live auction to benefit UB Students for Public Interest Law, will take place at the Belvedere, 1 E. Chase St. in Baltimore. The ceremony and auction are presented by the School of Law. Goering has led Maryland's ACLU chapter since 1996 and oversees all functions of the organization. She previously served as the chapter's legal director. Maryland's chapter-the 10th affiliate in the nation-was founded in 1931 and currently has more than 12,000 members across the state.


Stephen Harris Named Recipient of Second Annual Robert M. Bell Award for Leadership in Public Service
In the early 1970's, Stephen Harris became one of the very first public defenders in Maryland. He later became an assistant public defender in Baltimore City and then spent a stint as the district public defender for Anne Arundel county. As he put it in a recent article in Nota Bene, the law school magazine, "(Public Defenders) represent people who, by accident of birth, have fallen into a socioeconomic group that has gotten the short end of the stick from society... A lot of people go to law school because they think they are going to change the world. I came to the realization that I can't change the world, but in this job I can truly help enough individuals that I make a difference."
In recognition of Mr. Harris' years of making a difference for the citizens of Maryland, UBSPI is honored to award him the Second Annual Robert M. Bell Award for Leadership in Public Service.

Association of Corporate Counsel Sponsors UBSPI Grant for Second Year

 For the second year in a row, the Association of Corporate Counsel generously donated a portion of their summer Golf Tournament proceeds to UBSPI.  ACCA's generosity helps make our summer grant program possible and we thanks them for their continued support of public interest law in Maryland!

Henry Rollins Performs Benefit for UBSPI's New Endowment

 In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of UBSPI's summer grant program, we have created the UBSPI Endowment. On October 11, 2004, pop cultural icon performed his "Henry Rollins for President?" spoken word show at the Lyric Opera House.
Rollins has traveled all over the world performing spoken word shows to great acclaim.  As the Chicago Tribune noted, "Conventional wisdom maintains that people mellow with age. Somebody obviously forgot to tell Henry Rollins." The Courier-Journal in Louisville, KY added, "His passionate, intelligent and humorous takes on life leave audiences entertained, moved and enlightened." The Columbus Dispatch agreed, asserting that "Henry Rollins has set forth an 11th commandment: Thou shalt not bore former punk rocker and Black Flag frontman honored that commandment, leavening political analysis with self-deprecating humor."
Thanks to an appreciative audience and the support of institutional sponsor such as BAR/BRI Bar Review and Warnken, LLC, the event raised enough money to start the UBSPI Endowment.


Annual Robert M. Bell Award for Leadership in Public Service

In recognition of his years of commitment to public service and the promotion of equal access to justice for all people, UBSPI has named our new annual award for work in the public interest after the Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.

UBSPI is delighted that Judge Bell will be attending our Tenth Annual Goods and Services Auction to accept the first annual Robert M. Bell Award for Leadership in Public Service.

ACCA Summer Grants for 2004

Thanks to a generous donation from the Association of Corporate Counsel, UBSPI is pleased to announce the creation of an ACCA Summer Grant as part of our summer grant program.