A Commitment to Community: Day of Service Rounds Out Orientation Week at Northwestern Pritzker Law

Each year, Orientation week at Northwestern Pritzker Law prepares new students in the incoming JD, LLM, and MSL classes to begin a rigorous education in the field of law. After a week of touring the law school and attending sessions for their respective programs, students have the opportunity to give back to their new community through the Public Interest Center’s annual Day of Service, held the Friday of Orientation week. This year, around 190 students, representing all three degree programs, gathered to volunteer for ten different organizations around the city. These included the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, Prairie State Legal Services, Ladder Up, Chicago Covenants, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, Legal Prep Charter School, and Cradles to Crayons.

“The Day of Service speaks to the tradition of Northwestern Pritzker Law to foster community engagement, cultivate empathy, and reinforce the lawyer’s role as a servant-leader committed to justice beyond the classroom,” said Sheila Simhan, Assistant Director of the Public Interest Center and Director of the Public Service and Pro Bono programs. For some students, including Marisa Sandoval (JD ’29), this tradition played a significant role in their decision to attend the Law School.  “One of the primary reasons I was drawn to attend Northwestern was because of its dedication to community,” Sandoval explained. “Being new to the Chicago area, I greatly appreciated being able to give back to a city that has already given so much to me.”

Led by 2L and 3L students, each group set out on service projects that ranged from beach cleanups to sorting donation items to archival research. Students had the opportunity to select different projects based on availability and interest. For Samuel Akinyemi (JD ’29), a desire to “uplift local youth in any capacity” drove him to volunteer at Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit dedicated to providing clothes and other essentials for children in homeless or low-income situations. Student volunteers spent the day at the organization’s “Giving Factory” inspecting, sorting, and packing up essential items to be distributed to schools and organizations throughout the Chicago area. Fellow student Anny Bi (JD ’29), who also volunteered with Cradles to Crayons, came away from the experience “inspired by the organization’s commitment to preserving and elevating children’s sense of dignity.” Although the students were only there for a few hours, Bi said she felt the “meaningful impact” of even a morning’s worth of service. 

Meanwhile, Jane Cohen (JD ’29) was one of several students who volunteered with the Chicago Covenants Project, a digital research project that aims to identify racially restrictive covenants – contractual clauses attached to property deeds that banned Black people and other minorities from buying, leasing, or occupying homes – to help historians understand the lasting effects of discriminatory housing practices in Cook County. Students spent the first part of the day learning about the history of the covenants, then spent the second half of the session searching through the physical property records in the Cook County Courthouse to find evidence of these covenants. “As someone who majored in history in undergrad, I found it incredibly impactful to participate in an area of research that is largely not covered by existing scholarship,” said Cohen. Fellow student volunteer Natalie Rozmus (JD ’29) agreed, adding that “It was especially eye-opening to learn about how Northwestern-educated attorneys contributed to those covenants when they were made. Overall, it was a great reminder on how public service allows us as law students to use the skills we are working hard to develop to contribute to a more equitable community.”

Some students contributed to projects more specifically tied to the field of law, such as the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts.  The Appleseed Center is a community-driven advocacy organization that uses mixed-methods research to address poverty, mass incarceration, and racial injustice in the legal system. Through its court-watching program, trained volunteers observe virtual eviction hearings and collect data to support the Center’s research and advocacy efforts. For Lea Deen (JD ’29), the experience proved eye-opening in more ways than one. “I was not aware that Illinois (along with a handful of other states) does not disclose court records, so the only genuine way of witnessing bias from judges firsthand is either being the one on trial or by court watching,” she said. Students observed an online traffic court hearing via Zoom, which provided Deen with new insight into the legal system in advance of starting law school. “As someone who doesn’t have experience with the court system, seeing a judge working and being able to witness glimpses of the lives of everyday defendants was very informative,” she said.  

Across town, other student volunteers spent the morning at Legal Prep Charter Academy to help the school prepare for the upcoming academic year. The legal-themed charter high school centers its curriculum around the law and its principles, serving a student population that is 90% low income. Volunteers spent their time organizing and taking inventory of classroom books, painting and creating bulletin boards, and organizing other supplies that will be used in the fall. Marisa Sandoval shared that the experience proved particularly meaningful in that it gave her the opportunity to assist other students “whose dreams and aspirations are much like my own.” Emma Perez (JD ’29) expressed similar sentiments and was especially excited by the opportunity to mentor Legal Prep students in the future. “Being able to help guide a student who may be a first-generation professional like myself has always been a motivating factor,” she said.

No matter which project they chose, most of the interviewed students expressed a desire to continue pro bono and public service work during their time at Northwestern Pritzker Law, and in some instances to continue at the organization they worked with on Day of Service. Importantly, the day introduced students to the value of public service in advance of starting their law school journey. “Being able to begin pro bono service work even before the first day of classes was truly an invaluable experience,” said Bi.  

Day of Service is just one of the many service opportunities provided by the Public Interest Center throughout the year. Students can participate in pro bono and public service projects organized by the Center, such as Alternative Spring Break, student-initiated projects run by the student groups, or pursue independent projects with community organizations. No matter what path they choose, the Center’s Pro Bono and Public Service Program helps instill in students a strong dedication to giving back to their community.

“Day of Service is about more than volunteering for a morning,” said Leah Gould, Assistant Dean of Public Interest. “It reflects a core value of the legal profession: using our skills in service of others. Before attending their first class, students have the opportunity to put Northwestern Pritzker Law’s values into practice. We want every student to know that public service is accessible, impactful, and can remain a meaningful part of their career, regardless of the path they choose.”