Public Interest Commons^™

Cardozo Celebrates 34th Inspire! Awards, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law celebrated the 34th INSPIRE! Awards, recognizing alumni, students, and community members for their outstanding commitment to public service. The event honored leaders in immigration advocacy, presented student leadership and service awards, and featured a live recording of the SPARKS podcast focused on careers in public interest law.

Cardozo Alumna Taylor Brown ’17 Appointed Director Of Nyc's New Office Of Lgbtqia+ Affairs, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo Law alumna Taylor Brown ('17) was appointed the inaugural director of New York City's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs. The announcement highlights Brown's historic appointment, her leadership in civil rights advocacy, and her previous work with the New York State Attorney General's Office, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Lambda Legal.

Learning In Action: Cardozo Students Provide Legal Support To Central Valley Entrepreneurs, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Students from Cardozo Law's Entrepreneurship and Community Business Clinic traveled to California's Central Valley to provide legal education and support to local entrepreneurs. Through workshops, client counseling, and community outreach, students assisted rural businesses and nonprofits while gaining hands-on experience in transactional and community-based legal practice.

The Jacob Burns Center For Ethics In The Practice Of Law And The Public Service Scholars Invite You To: Breakfast With Douglas Letter, Jacob Burns Center For Ethics In The Practice Of Law, Public Service Scholars, Douglas Letter

2026 Event Invitations

A conversation on constitutional litigation and public service in and outside of the federal government with Douglas Letter, Chief Legal Office at Brady United, and Professor Jessica Roth. Mr. Letter is former General Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives under Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For 40 years, he worked as a public servant at the U.S Department of Justice. Mr. Letter also served in the White House Counsel's Office under President Bill Clinton.

Public Interest Club Wide Panel, Cardozo Public Interest Law Student Association, Cardozo Public Service Scholars Program, Cardozo National Lawyers Guild, Cardozo Law Unemployment Action Center, Cardozo Suspension Representation Project (Srp)

2025–2026 Flyers

Come and listen to 2Ls talk all things clinics, journals, teams, classes, internships- Everything and anything!

Article Iii Standing And The Public Interest Class Action, Sharon Brett

Cardozo Law Review

This Article suggests a new focus for Article III standing in public interest class actions brought under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(2). Rule 23(b)(2) is a vital tool for protecting communities from civil rights abuses. It is also receiving new attention in the wake of Trump v. CASA, the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2025 that severely restricted the use of nationwide injunctions. Rule 23(b)(2) cases seek only injunctive relief and are designed to permit individuals to pool their adjudicative power to prevent constitutional violations by government officials. A complicated web of doctrinal entanglements, including a heightened requirement for …

P*Law Week 2026: Student-Led Expert Panels Focusing On Public Service Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law's annual Public Law Advocacy Week (P*LAW), hosted by the Center for Public Service Law, featured student-led panels on disability rights, labor law, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration law, environmental law, and international accountability. The event brought together students, alumni, faculty, and practitioners to discuss pressing public interest issues and careers in public service law.

Environmental Litigation In The Trumpa Era, Public Interest Law Student Association (Pilsa), Margaret Barry, Jessie Shaw

2025–2026 Flyers

Join us for a conversation about the current state of climate litigation in the US.

Milbank Expands Partnership With The Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Milbank LLP announced a significant expansion of its partnership with the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo School of Law, increasing its charitable commitment to $2.5 million through 2029. The expanded funding will strengthen the Milbank Exoneration Review Unit, support additional staffing, and advance post-conviction advocacy for wrongfully convicted and excessively sentenced individuals.

The Laura And Isaac Perlmutter Foundation Expands Support For The Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law Of Yeshiva University, Bringing Their Total Contribution To $16 Million, With Up To An Additional $2 Million Committed, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation announced an additional $500,000 gift to the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo School of Law, along with a four-year matching commitment of up to $2 million. The expanded support will strengthen the Center's work on wrongful convictions, clemency, resentencing, and experiential legal education while advancing criminal justice reform initiatives.

Different Tactics, Same Goal: Protecting Trans Rights In Challenging Times, Public Interest Law Student Association (Pilsa), Adam Handelman, Amy Leipziger, Charlie Ferguson, Taylor Brown, Lynly Egyes

2025–2026 Flyers

Join us for a discussion examining how advocates are fighting to protect transgender rights through diverse strategic approaches..

P*Law 2026, Cardozo Center For Public Service Law

2026 Event Invitations

Cardozo's commitment to public service is highlighted every January during Public Interest Law Advocacy Week (P*LAW), a series of events that includes daily panels and workshops featuring inspiring conversations about the practice of public interest law. Join us for P*LAW 2026, which will feature panels discussing how to navigate student loans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, trans rights, a client interviewing workshop, and more! Students must RSVP on Symplicity for the events they plan to attend. Faculty and staff are welcome to attend any session, no RSVP required.

Perlmutter Center's Derrick Hamilton, Reform Advocates Secure Passage Of New York State's Prison Justice Omnibus Package, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law recognized Derrick Hamilton, Deputy Director of the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice, and fellow criminal justice reform advocates for their role in advancing New York State's Prison Justice Omnibus Package. The legislation expands transparency, oversight, and accountability in state correctional facilities and reflects the advocacy of the End Prison Violence campaign.

Freedom Clinic Faculty And Students Win Clemency Case Through New Jersey Second Chance Initiative, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

The Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law secured clemency for LaShawn Fitch through New Jersey's Second Chance Initiative. Cardozo Freedom Clinic faculty and students helped prepare Mr. Fitch's clemency petition, highlighting issues surrounding felony-murder sentencing, the trial penalty, and juvenile justice.

Outline & Unwind, Cardozo Public Interest Law Student Association

2025–2026 Flyers

A chill night with PILSA

Come hang out, recharge, ask questions and get your brain (and markers) flowing !

President Trump And Control Of Administrative Agencies: The Firing Of Nlrb Commissioner Gwynne Wilcox, Gwynne Wilcox, Daniel Silverman, David Rudenstine, Floersheimer Center For Constitutional Democracy, Public Interest Law Student Association (Pilsa), American Constitution Society (Acs), Cardozo Chapter, National Lawyers Guild, Cardozo Chapter, Cardozo Federalist Society

2025 Event Invitations

On November 18, Gwynne Wilcox will join Dan Silverman at Cardozo to discuss her lawsuit against Trump and his administration for firing her as an NLRB commissioner. This conversation will be moderated by Professor David Rudenstine.

On January 27, 2025, President Trump removed Wilcox from the Board prior to her term’s expiration in 2028. Wilcox was the first Board Member to have been removed in 90 years of the Board's inception in 1935. Wilcox filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Washington, DC, against President Trump challenging her unprecedented and unlawful termination based upon current statutory law and well-established Supreme …

The Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law Secures Release Of Ernest Taylor After Serving 22 Years In Prison For A Minor Theft, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Announcement of the Perlmutter Center securing Ernest Taylor's release after resentencing.

Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Commit $6 Million To Name Clinical Education Program At Cardozo School Of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law announced a $6 million gift from alumna Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano to renovate and expand its clinical education facilities. The gift will establish the Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano Program for Clinical Education, supporting experiential legal education and increasing access to justice through Cardozo's nationally recognized clinical programs.

Calling All Students Leaders & Community Organizers, Center For Public Service Law, Public Interest Law Student Association (Pilsa)

2025–2026 Flyers

Join Public Interest Law Advocacy (P*LAW) Week: A student-ed movement sparking dialogue, building community, and empowering future advocates.

P*Law 2025: The Future Of The National Labor Relations Act Under Trump, Center For Public Service Law, Trader Joe's United, Julien, Mirer, Singla & Goldstein, Pllc, Working People’S Law Center

2024–2025 Flyers

A P*LAW 2025 panel on the future of the National Labor Relations Act under Trump, moderated by Jordan Pollack ’27, featuring attorneys from Goldstein & Singla PLLC and worker-organizers from Trader Joe’s United.

P*Law 2025: Public Interest Law Internship Application Workshop, Center For Public Service Law, Public Interest Law Student Association (Pilsa)

2024–2025 Flyers

A Public Interest Law workshop hosted by PILSA on January 29, offering students help with internship application materials like cover letters, résumés, and writing samples.

P*Law 2025: Mentor Mocks - A Joint Production Of Sba And Ocs, Center For Public Service Law, Cardozo Student Bar Association, Cardozo Office Of Career Services, Katten Muchin Rosenman Llp

2024–2025 Flyers

Mentor Mocks, presented by SBA and OCS and sponsored by Katten, offered 1L students the chance to practice interview skills through mock interviews with upper-class students.

P*Law 2025: Access To Housing Justice: Eviction Diversion Programs, Center For Public Service Law, Public Interest Law Student Association (Pilsa), Nathaniel Newman, Julia Leibman

2024–2025 Flyers

A panel discussion on eviction diversion programs and access to housing justice, held on January 28 in Room 1008. The event featured speakers from the National Center for State Courts, Center for Justice Innovation, Urban Justice Center, and Mobilization for Justice. Moderated by Nathenial Newman and Julia Leibman, both Cardozo Law Class of 2027.

P*Law 2025: What’S Next? Reproductive Justice Under The Trump Administration, Center For Public Service Law, Shayna Medley, Jenny Ma, Chelsea Williams-Diggs, Bella Pori

2024–2025 Flyers

Hosted by Cardozo P*LAW 2025, this January 28 event explored abortion rights and reproductive justice under the Trump administration. Panelists discussed litigation, nonprofit advocacy, and policymaking at both state and federal levels, with a focus on how New York-based law students can support local efforts. Moderated by Bella Pori ’21.

P*Law 2025, Center For Public Service Law

2024–2025 Flyers

This document outlines the full schedule for Cardozo Law School’s 2025 P*LAW Week, hosted by the Center for Public Service Law. Held from January 27 to January 30, the week featured a variety of panels, workshops, and student-led presentations on topics such as reproductive justice, housing, LGBTQ+ immigration, international human rights, labor law, and social justice. Events included guest speakers from leading advocacy organizations, mock interviews, and internship prep sessions, all designed to engage students in public interest law and foster professional development.

P*Law 2025: Immigration For Lgbtq+ Individuals: Laws, Barriers, And Insights, Center For Public Service Law, Victoria Nielson, Lermán Montoya, Fernanda Gianesella, Noemi Masliah, Gleozyl Saavedra, Natalia Palacino Camargo

2024–2025 Flyers

A P*LAW 2025 event focused on the legal challenges and barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the immigration system. The panel featured legal experts and advocates discussing policy insights, representation, and protections for LGBTQ+ immigrants.

P*Law 2025: Planning Meeting, Center For Public Service Law

2024–2025 Flyers

No abstract provided.

Anatomy Of An Aggregate Settlement: The Triumph Of Temptation Over Ethics, Lester Brickman

Articles

In an aggregate settlement, usually of a mass tort claim, a defendant agrees to pay a specific dollar amount to be divided up by the lawyer among her multiple clients which may number in the hundreds and even thousands. Each client, therefore, is in competition with all of the lawyer’s other clients suing the same defendant for a share of the fixed sum. Rule 1.8(g) of the ABA Rules of Professional Conduct requires that each client give their informed consent to their allocation. To facilitate the settlement and the often quite substantial contingency fees to be earned, lawyers may mislead …