A One-Day Intensive Helps Students Explore the Foundations of Public Interest Law

On a recent Friday, more than 70 students gathered at St. John’s Law for the inaugural Public Interest Intensive, a one-day program coordinated by the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center to help them explore the foundations of public interest law.

Part of an expansion of the Center’s programming made possible by a historic gift from Rose DiMartino ’81 and her spouse, Karen Sue Smith, the Intensive was designed with student input about their interests. “We launched the Intensive so our students can better understand how to use their legal training to expand access to justice and make a difference,” says Center Director Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz. “It gives them space to explore pressing legal issues, learn from alumni working on the front lines, and connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real opportunities to serve communities in need. The Intensive also prepares students for the annual Public Interest Legal Career Fair and gives our Student Fellows a dynamic leadership platform.”

This year’s program featured three panels: Sustaining Purpose in Immigration Law: Reflections on Practice and Advocacy; Grounded in Justice: Reflections from Public Defenders on Criminal Law and Reform; and Public Interest Pathways: Opportunities and Clinical Practice. Attendees also drew inspiration from keynote remarks by Adjunct Professor Dianne O. Woodburn ’00, who reflected on her work as Legal Services Supervisor for the Senior Initiative and Home Retention Programs at JASA|Legal Services for Elder Justice.

It was especially meaningful for Nathan Cao ’27, president of the Law School’s student-run Immigration Law Society. “I was honored to moderate the Immigration Law panel,” he says. “It allowed students to hear directly from immigration attorneys about the realities of legal practice, maintaining resilience during these unprecedented times in immigration policy and enforcement, and sustaining purpose through the ups and downs. Students also received practical guidance on how to build and maintain a long and fulfilling career in public interest.”

Elshaday Yeshitila Yilma ’26, who helped to develop the Intensive, also found the day rewarding. Participating on the Public Interest Pathways panel, she shared insights from her experiences in the Law School’s clinics and externship program. Reflecting on the opportunity, she shares:

“This was a day devoted to the values that brought so many of us here to St. John’s Law. Setting aside this time creates a space for students to connect with one another, to recognize that they’re part of a larger community, and to feel supported in choosing a path rooted in service. It also invites alumni to candidly share about their challenges, triumphs, and the ways they’ve learned to sustain themselves doing such demanding work. By hosting the Intensive, the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center is nurturing a Law School community with a shared commitment to the Center’s mission and values. It’s wonderful to be part of this important effort.”