About the Public Interest Project

The Public Interest Project is a student-run organization formed in 1984. Our mission is to provide grants to students who accept unpaid summer positions with non-profit, public interest or government organizations. Our goal is to foster a commitment to pro bono work and community service in all our grant recipients, whether they chose to pursue a public interest career or to work in the private sector. PIP raises grant money through the programs such as the Auction Gala, LSTAR, Salary for a Day, the Beantown Shootout and through donations from alumni and law firms.

In 2011, PIP provided summer grants to 78 first and second-year law students.

Recent Grant Recipients

Michael Quirk ’11

Michael interned with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, conducting client interviews, drafting and filing motions, examining and cross-examining witnesses at preliminary hearings, developing trial strategy, and assisting attorneys in court and at trial. Michael says that the most interesting and rewarding project of the summer was preparing for the trial of a client accused of first-degree murder. Like all of the other cases he worked on, Michael was able to assist with substantive legal work through the various stages of the case.

Anuj Khetarpal ’10

Anuj Khetarpal spent three months working with International Bridges to Justice, an independent, nonprofit organization, as well as with members of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, where he subsequently interned, to improve the public defender system in India.

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Recent News

Exciting Auction Items for 2012

posted March 18, 2012

PIP will auction hundreds of items on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at the Metcalf Ballroom of the George Sherman Union. The following is a sample of what will be up for grabs:

  • A two-week session at Camp Cody valued at $2800.
  • 7 Day, 6 Night Stay in 4-bed Condo during Aug. 2012 in Winter Park Colorado valued at $2100.
  • 7 Day, 6 Night Stay in Villas del Palmar Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico valued at $1750.
  • 2-night stay at bed and breakfast in Catskills valued at $600.
  • 2 box seat tickets to New York’s Metropolitan Opera showing of “L’Elisir Amore” valued at $400.

First Annual Legal Fall-ies Talent Show

posted November 15, 2010

This year PIP added a new event to its fundraising repertoire, partnering with BU Law’s own sketch comedy group, the Legal Follies, to host a Talent Show.   Over 100 students, alumni, and friends of the law school were treated to music, comedy and magic by the more talented among us, including:

The Legal Follies Band
Vedia Biton
Mike Regnetta
Jared K. Markowitz
The Great Whiskey Rebellion
Ryan Very
Daniel Flaherty & Todd Macey
Ryan Bleek
Brandon Green
Sam Taylor & Pat Cento


Winners The Great Whiskey Rebellion (1st), Sam Taylor and Pat Cento (2nd) and Brandon Green (3rd) took home prizes generously donated by Kaplan PMBR.  All proceeds from this event fund summer grants for students pursuing public interest work.

BU Keeps the Streak Alive, Beating BC 53-51

posted November 10, 2010

BU Law once again faced-off against BC Law at the 5th Annual Beantown Shootout on October 22, 2010.  The hard fought game resulted in BU’s third win in a row, with a final score of 53-51.

The winner of BU Law’s intramural tournament, the South Beach Talents, formed the core of the squad that faced BC, which also included the following student-athletes: Josh Goldstein, Ben Idemundia, Nick Dean, Brandon Pratt, Manuel Vazquez, Marissa Urban, Michel Bamani, Cory Rothbort, Ryan Murphy, Pete Temesgen, Joe McVicker, Christina Dawson, Alyssa Nugent, Seth Davis, Dan Flaherty, Amber Charles, Caleb Sanbury, and Joey Colangelo.

BU looks forward to facing BC next year and having the opportunity to keep the streak alive for a fourth straight year!  All proceeds from this fun event benefit recipients of public interest grants.

BU def. BC 49-48 at Annual Beantown Shootout!

posted November 02, 2009

At this year’s Beantown Shootout, BU Law’s own “Lights Out” team won back our Trophy (and bragging rights) from BC Law with the final score of 49-48. Our champions – lead by the team’s coaches, Josh Cooper and Anuj Khetarpal – include Josh Goldstein (2L), Dan Flaherty (2L), Ryan Murphy (2L), Nick Dean (2L), Alyssa Nugent (2L), Keith Spence (2L), Joe McVicker (2L), Marissa Urban (1L), Brandon Pratt (1L), Ephram Pierre (1L), Benedict Idemundia (1L), Michelle Marion (3L), Sean Brogan (3L) and especially Reginald Champagne (LLM), who made the winning basket in the last few seconds of the game.

The Shootout was a great success, not only for BU’s victory, but also because it had the highest attendance in its history. All of the proceeds benefit the public interest law funds at both BU Law (PIP) and BC Law.

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