Public interest law is not simply an ideal; it is real people working to help others. Georgetown students could benefit from the experiences of real people working in public interest. Towards this end, EJF recommends that Georgetown establish the following programs:

1. A school-wide public interest faculty advisor program.
2. A school-wide public interest mentor program.
3. A series of public interest recognition events.

Students want to learn from the experiences of faculty members, alumni and practitioners in the public interest community. These individuals can play a crucial and influential role in guiding students through the process of transforming their ideals of public interest employment into reality.

A. Background

There are a number of ways in which advising, mentoring and recognition programs can bridge the gap between students' ideals of public interest and the public interest community:

• Students can benefit from guidance in developing their academic program, so as to be adequately trained for entry-level public interest work.
• These programs can provide students with insight into what it is like to work in public interest.
• They can provide students with guidance and direction in refining their public interest job search, important because the public interest job market is extremely diverse and diffuse.
• These individuals can serve as role models to students and inspire them to work in public interest.

One of the most effective means of providing students with information and a connection to the public interest community is to develop relationships. Students are starving for the personal contact and information that can be provided by individuals working in public interest. Georgetown's faculty and alumni, and public interest practitioners in the Washington DC community are untapped resources that hold great promise.

Currently, the Public Interest Law Scholars (PILS) program provides students with a faculty advisor and a mentor from the professional public interest community. However, for students not enrolled in the PILS program, no formalized method exists for obtaining faculty guidance and connections to the public interest community. The success of these PILS programs warrants their examination as a model for replication among the entire student population.

By creating a program that will encompass all students interested in public interest, Georgetown will reap a number of benefits:

1. Mentors and Advisors Provide Support for Students. The impact an advisor, mentor, or speaker can have on a student is immeasurable. These human connections can be the most influential factors in inspiring and supporting a student's interest.
2. They Foster a Public Interest Community. By building relationships between students and alumni and students and faculty, mentoring creates the human connections which are the cornerstones of a strong community. Graduating students who had been helped by alumni will be more inclined to assist other students in the future. Holding community-wide events such as recognition events will help create a sense of community.
3. These Programs Are Not Costly. Advisors and mentor programs, by relying on the efforts of those willing to share their time and experiences, allow Georgetown to tap into existing resources at minimal cost.
4. These Programs Will Enhance Georgetown's Image in the Public Interest Community. Reaching out to the Washington public interest community will improve Georgetown's standing with public interest organizations and enable Georgetown to develop a strong public interest network.
5. These Programs Will Enable Students to Enjoy Their Time at Georgetown More. The advisor program will create a stronger link between students and faculty, making Georgetown more personal to students.
6. These Programs Inspire Students. Since students often make many sacrifices to engage in public interest work, non-cash messages are valuable in maintaining the morale of students who do not follow the traditional law school career path.

B. Recommendations

1. Establish a Public Interest Advising Program

EJF recommends that each entering student be given the option of having a faculty member serve as his or her advisor.

2. Establish a Mentoring Program

EJF recommends that each entering student be given the option of having an alumnus serve as a mentor. Alumni should be surveyed on a regular basis about their jobs and whether they would be willing to talk to students.

3. Recognize Public Interest Contributions Among Georgetown Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Others

EJF recommends that events such as dinners or other social functions be held to reward outstanding public interest work among students, faculty and alumni.