Helping nonprofits so that they are able to more effectively operate and benefit the causes they were created to serve was a major motivating force that brought me to law school. As I progress along with my legal career, I hope to retain an emphasis on working with socially beneficial organizations. For that reason, working with the Community Development Law Center (CDLC) this summer was an incredible opportunity.
CDLC, a program of Legal Aid Services of Oregon, provides legal assistance to nonprofit organizations benefiting low-income individuals and families in Oregon. While working at CDLC, I was able to provide very needed legal services and advice to a number of local nonprofit organizations that otherwise may have been forced to shut down. I know that my work benefited my community by enabling excellent, local nonprofit organizations to serve their communities.
I am incredibly thankful for the PILP stipend that I received. The debt that I have incurred to attend law school places a serious limitation on my activities and the employment opportunities that I am able to consider. Despite my desire to work with the incredible social-benefit organizations of Oregon, the prospect of incurring additional debt to provide for my living expenses was very unattractive. PILP enabled me to pursue my interests and benefit my community.
