Eight students received NAPIL stipends to support public interest work this summer. Pictured above (from left) are Brandi Nave, 3L, president of UDC-DCSL’s NAPIL chapter this year, along with five of the summer stipend recipients: Antonia Akwule, 3L, Pragati Parikh, 3L, Heather Rubinstein, 3L, Vanessa Carlo-Miranda, 2L, and Rasheda Jiles, 3L.

The student-run Joseph L. Rauh Jr. National Association of Public Interest Law (NAPIL) chapter at UDC-DCSL increased fundraising by 300% last year. The money raised supported eight law students working in full-time public interest summer jobs, representing juveniles, prisoners, immigrants, whistleblowers and others who could not otherwise afford a lawyer or secure access to the justice system.

Under the able leadership of Richard Hallock, 3L, president of last year’s chapter, NAPIL conducted its most successful auction ever. Faculty and students bid on weekend cabins, sports and theater tickets, and even a brand new shiny bicycle donated by Prof. Laurie Morin. And, for the first time, NAPIL reached out to School of Law Foundation Board members, alumni and friends seeking auction items as well as direct donations. The single biggest ticket item at the auction was a crab feast for ten families at the Parrish Creek home of Michael and Maggie Rauh. A syndicate put together by Dean Shelley Broderick bid $1,500!

"I can’t wait for next year!" said Dean Broderick. "We had such a good time that Mike and Maggie pledged to auction off back-to-back crab feasts on a weekend next summer with a goal of raising $4,000. Their theory? If you’re going to rent a tent, you might as well use it twice!"

The whole Rauh family got into the act. Mike’s mother Olie Rauh auctioned off a pool party at her Northwest Washington, D.C., home near the University. A group of faculty members purchased the party and offered it to Rauh Scholarship recipients and to Rauh NAPIL Chapter members. "We are so grateful to the Rauh family for all they have done for our law school," said incoming NAPIL President Brandi Nave. "Mrs. Rauh is a wonderfully gracious host and we were pretty impressed at the photo of Joe Rauh with Albert Einstein!"

Joe Rauh was a legendary civil rights lawyer, D.C. Home Rule advocate, and founding father of the School of Law. UDC-DCSL’s NAPIL chapter was named after Mr. Rauh to honor his legacy of service to the School, to the District of Columbia, and to the nation.