Maryann Canfield '92 Expands Access to Transformative Summer Fellowships

This summer, 140 students received substantial stipends for unpaid internships at nonprofit organizations and government agencies in New York and nationwide through the Law School's Summer Public Interest & Public Service Fellowship Program. Expanding access to these transformative opportunities are generous St. John's Law alumni, including Maryann Canfield, whose philanthropy helps students gain hands-on experience serving communities and advancing justice.

Canfield's commitment to the Fellowship Program grew out of her involvement with the Alumnae Leadership Council (ALC), a chapter of the St. John's Law Alumni Association founded by her friend, mentor, and former law firm colleague, Rose DiMartino '81. Inspired by matching challenges DiMartino issued in conjunction with the Law School’s annual Public Interest Auction fundraiser, Canfield has helped support nine Summer Public Interest & Public Service Fellows over the past three years.

“I’ve known Rose for many years since we worked together at Willkie Farr, and I’m honored that she introduced me to and included me in the ALC,” Canfield says. “Getting to know young law students at the onset of their careers brings back memories. They remind me of the struggles and challenges of those early days, including financial challenges. I think many young lawyers, particularly women, would pursue careers in public interest but financial concerns sometimes get in the way. By supporting the Fellows, I hope to remove those barriers, at least in some small way.”  

Canfield, who recently retired from Soros Fund Management LLC after 26 years—including 14 years serving as its General Counsel—appreciates that public interest and public service experiences benefit students regardless of the legal career path they ultimately pursue. “As a corporate lawyer, there was often little time for pro bono work,” she recalls. “But I did get to participate in a few matters over the years. I always found it very rewarding, and it helped shape my perspective as a lawyer generally.”

Thanks in part to Canfield’s generosity, John Squires ’27 is gaining perspective on the vital work of public interest lawyers through his internship with the New York Legal Assistance Group's Tenants' Rights Unit. “Nothing compares to firsthand and frontline experience,” he shares. “Meeting the clients I've assisted and hearing their stories never fails to reinforce my commitment to pursuing justice. Without the Summer Public Interest Fellowship, these experiences wouldn’t be possible. I'm a first-generation law student and support myself independently. The Fellowship has given me the opportunity to put my principles into practice.” 

Like Squires, Samantha Tsang ’28 is having a formative experience as a Maryann Canfield ’92 Summer Public Interest Fellow. Reflecting on her internship with Hon. Gerald Lebovits in New York State Supreme Court, she says: “The Fellowship has significantly deepened my commitment to promoting access to justice by providing a front-row seat to the judicial process. By drafting bench memos and analyzing the merits of pending motions, I’ve gained a more nuanced understanding of how statutory authority and case law shape real-world outcomes. Observing oral arguments, hearings, and trials has illuminated the critical importance of ensuring that every party has their voice heard within the legal system, reinforcing my desire to serve as an advocate who bridges the gap between complex legal frameworks and the individuals they are designed to protect.” 

For Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, who oversees the Summer Public Interest & Public Service Fellowship Program as Director of the Law School's DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center, it's rewarding to witness Summer Fellows build professional identities with support from alumni like Canfield. “This Program is a pillar of the Center’s offerings and reflects our commitment to helping students explore and engage in work that underscores the legal professional’s duty to promote social justice and serve the public good,” she says. “We’re fortunate and grateful that Maryann, Rose, and their fellow alumni share that commitment and, through their generosity, help advance it year after year.”