October 17, 2024

Meet our 2024 PILC Grant Recipients Working in Government — Part Four

Southwestern's Public Interest Law Committee (PILC) is a student-run organization that sponsors several events each year to raise student awareness and involvement in providing legal services for underrepresented communities and is dedicated to facilitating public interest law careers by supporting students in public interest work through fundraising efforts for the school's Public Interest Law Summer Grant Program.

We want to recognize these students and their incredible work with their Public Interest Law Committee Summer Grant. Meet our final group of 2024 PILC Grant recipients working in Government:

Sarah Dean-Gooderham

Summer Placement: Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office

I am very proud of the work I did over the summer, at my first placement as well as this second placement. In total, I went on the record 39 times. While I had many OR motions denied, I succeeded on quite a few, including by releasing clients to a program called Project 180 which helps them find housing and jobs. Despite the hardships of the system, I felt proud of my work to do everything I could to help people caught in its grasp.

I am passionate about public interest work because I believe we are here on Earth together to help and love each other, and I want to spend my life helping and loving as many people as I possibly can using the skills I have been fortunate enough to gain.

Daniel Golub

Summer Placement: Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office

I am passionate about public interest work because the legitimacy of the legal system is dependent upon faithful execution of the societal mandate to pursue and obtain just outcomes. Working in public interest allows me to fight for just outcomes for individuals who would otherwise be deprived of their most fundamental rights and given no opportunity to determine the merits of their claims. This work gives me an opportunity to use the law as a force for good that can make a real difference in people’s lives. I plan to center my career entirely around public interest and public service work, either through indigent criminal defense or civil litigation on behalf of clients that are indigent or have experienced violations of their civil, employment, or housing rights.

Nicolas Ruiz

Summer Placement: Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office

This summer, I had the opportunity to write a motion that contributed to a client having his case dismissed. The client was facing a parole revocation which would have required him to spend many months in custody. We first argued our case in the judge’s chambers, and I was able to advocate on behalf of our client. The moment the prosecutor told us he would be dismissing the case, I felt a sense of excitement, I turned the corner with the attorney I was working with, and we enjoyed a moment of celebration together. We then went straight to lockup and delivered the news to our client who was overcome with joy. 

Katie Selko

Summer Placement: Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office

I am deeply passionate about public interest work because it allows me to fight for justice on behalf of individuals who are often overlooked and underserved by the legal system. My experiences at the public defender's office have solidified my commitment to advocating for the rights of those who cannot afford legal representation, ensuring that everyone has access to fair legal proceedings. After law school, I intend to become a public defender, where I can dedicate my career to providing quality legal defense to the people of Los Angeles County. I am committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of my clients and upholding the principles of justice and fairness.

About the PILC Summer Grant Program

Southwestern's PILC Summer Grant program was established in 1990 with the mission of providing financial support to selected recipients seeking full-time summer clerkships with legal services organizations providing no-cost assistance to underserved, marginalized communities. This program makes it possible for students to acquire the legal training and education necessary to address the lack of access to legal services for indigent communities while also alleviating Southwestern students' financial burden of acquiring more educational loans in order to do so.

PILC sincerely thanks our donors and supporters for your invaluable contributions to this program benefiting Southwestern students. PILC's mission is to help create a community where Southwestern students, staff, faculty, and alumni are educated and incentivized to participate in issues concerning and advancing the public interest, and it is your support of this mission that is vital in helping us reach our fundraising goals each year. 

The student deadline to apply to the 2025 PILC Summer Grant Program is March 10, 2025. Awards up to $5,000. Email publicservice@swlaw.edu for more information.