Wayne State University Law School is gearing up for its second annual Public Interest Law Foundation Auction, scheduled for March 28, 2024, on the law school campus. The auction raises funds for public interest fellowships for Wayne Law students. Anyone can give to this cause online or in person, and the contributions of this growing community event will support students giving back in important ways.

Last March, Wayne Law hosted its first Public Interest Law Foundation Auction, raising nearly $19,000 in fellowship funds for students working in non-paying public interest jobs over summer. The event was primarily an online auction, with an auction after-party and silent auction held at Common Pub, an event sponsor.

The auction featured creative and fun items donated by faculty and community partners. There was fierce bidding for each faculty donation. A visit to a professor’s summer cottage, and up north stay and kayaking with other professors saw competitive bidding from students and alumni alike. Other popular items included lunch outings, bike rides, brewery tours, sporting events, and homemade cookies. 

Fundraising goals were modest for the first auction, but generous faculty support and donations from members of the Law School community brought in over $9,000. Dean Richard Bierschbach also supported public interest students and to encourages support from others to help make the auction an annual tradition.

While last year’s auction was primarily online, this year’s event will have more in-person bidding activity with the hope to grow the event in popularity for the entire Wayne Law community of students, faculty, alumni, and community partners.

Auction fundraising allowed the school to award eight public interest fellowships in 2023. Each year, Wayne Law's auction faculty committee reviews many times that number of compelling and impressive applications for these fellowships from students committed to applying their legal education to work in public service. Read more about the 2023 fellows here.

Auction coordinator Erin Gianopoulos ‘21 would like to thank the sponsors, participants, and especially the Wayne Law faculty, who helped make the 2023 Auction a success. She and the law school community welcome your support for the upcoming 2024 event!

Links for the auction and donation page are:

https://waynelawpilfauction.betterworld.org/donate

https://waynelawpilfauction.betterworld.org/auctions/PILF-2024

For donation details and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Erin at erin.gianopoulos@wayne.edu