Equal Justice Works News Release

media advisory

CONTACT:
Aaron Pickering
(202) 466-3686 ext. 137

apickering@equaljusticeworks.org
www.equaljusticeworks.org

PUBLIC SERVICE SWELLS DURING RECESSION

What:	The legal profession has seen thousands of layoffs over the past year. Law school applicants and graduates alike are facing deferments, while many associates find themselves seeking alternate employment. The current economic environment has led to an increased need for legal services by the poor and most vulnerable of our citizens, yet there are fewer resources to meet those needs. How should law students and recent law graduates navigate the storm? More than 1,500 public interest-minded law students, law graduates, law school professionals and public interest employers will gather in Washington, DC, for the 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair. The event includes skill-building and career advising sessions with experts from around the country, workshops on effective public interest organizing strategies, and interview opportunities for summer and permanent positions. Highlights include: Plenary session featuring Ralph Nader, one of the nation's leading advocates for consumer rights and author of Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! Awards Luncheon featuring remarks by Harold Koh, Legal Adviser for the U.S. Department of State and former Yale Law School Dean; and Carolyn Lamm, President of the American Bar Association. The Luncheon honors law school leaders who have demonstrated their commitment to justice: Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Director of the Indian Legal Clinic, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law; and the Voters’ Rights Project, Rutgers School of Law – Camden. More than 1,000 law students and graduates will interview with more than 130 public interest employers including the Consumers Union, American Civil Liberties Union, the United States Government and numerous state and regional legal aid organizations. Deferred associates may also interview during a special track at the Conference.
When:	Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 2009
Where:	The Omni Shoreham Hotel 2500 Calvert Street, NW (at Connecticut) Washington, DC 20008
Contact:	For additional information about the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org/events/cf/conference. Media representatives interested in attending any of the events should contact Aaron Pickering at 202-466-3686 ext 137 or apickering@equaljusticeworks.org before October 19.

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Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1986 by law students dedicated to working for equal justice on behalf of underserved communities and causes. Today, Equal Justice Works is the national leader in creating summer and postgraduate public interest opportunities for law students and lawyers as well as in urging more public interest programming at law schools. For more information, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org.