named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
BLSPI Fellowship
Provides summer funding to Brooklyn Law students for public interest legal work in New York City, nationally, and internationally; recipients contribute 30 hours of service to BLSPI
Community Development
Organizes donation drives, service projects, and discussions on community issues including Race and the Law events
Mentorship Program
Pairs first-year law students with upperclass mentors to support professional development and public interest career navigation
Michael Madow Bar Grant
Offers $1,000 grants to graduating students sitting for the bar exam who demonstrate commitment to public interest legal careers
Pro Bono Projects
Organizes student-led pro bono initiatives including Legal Information for Families Today and the Community Justice Unit focused on voting rights and anti-gun violence
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Legal Education Scholarships and Fellowships 3 activities
- Administers summer fellowship program for public interest law studentsSelects first- and second-year Brooklyn Law School students annually as fellows to work in public interest, public service, and human rights organizations in New York City, nationally, and internationally. Fellows are funded through an annual auction and are required to contribute 30 hours of service to advance BLSPI's mission.
- Disburses grants to law students committed to public interest workProvides $1,000 grants to Brooklyn Law School students who demonstrate commitment to public interest legal work.
- Hosts annual auction to fund public interest law fellowshipsHosts an annual auction to raise funds supporting 10 to 20 students in unpaid public interest legal positions, with past auctions raising up to $55,000.
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Legal Education and Career Pipeline Programs 2 activities
- Facilitates student mentorship and professional development programsPairs first-year law students with upperclass student mentors based on shared interests and goals, facilitates collaboration on pro bono projects, and hosts events including a mentorship mixer, resume workshops, interview preparation, employer engagement, and informational sessions on law school classes and clinics.
- Organizes pro bono legal projects and recognizes student serviceOrganizes and oversees pro bono legal projects for law students and co-organizes a bi-annual celebration to recognize student pro bono service at Brooklyn Law School.
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Conducts citywide voting rights education workshopsConducts citywide voting rights workshops across New York City’s five boroughs, training law students to co-lead sessions on voter eligibility, registration, and government roles.
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Community Event-Based Giving Programs 1 activity
- Hosts annual and biannual community service and fundraising eventsHosts an annual canned food drive during Thanksgiving, collects and distributes Halloween candy to children in domestic violence shelters, co-hosts biannual blood drives with Phi Delta Phi, and runs a March Madness fundraising bracket competition to support a charity focused on children and the law.
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Student-Led Community Service Programs 1 activity
- Organizes orientation and service-learning activities for law studentsOrganizes community service projects during Orientation Week for incoming and current students and participates in the MLK Day of Service.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Provides legal information materials to self-represented families in family courtProvided on-site legal information and rights materials to self-represented families in Manhattan Family Court, a program active since 1996.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$29K
Contributions & grants$35K124%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$22K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$20K
balance sheet
Total assets$70K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$70K
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +32.8%
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- 32BJ Legal Services Fund Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Advocates for Justice Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Brooklyn District Attorney's Office Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Brooklyn Law School Network — BLSPI is affiliated with Brooklyn Law School, drawing students, faculty, and alumni into its fellowship and funding activities.
- Brooklyn Law School Network — Hosts BLSPI events and supports the BLSPI Fellowship Program.
- Brooklyn Law School Network — Hosts and supports the student organization at Brooklyn Law School.
- Brooklyn Law School Partner — Co-organizes the bi-annual End of Semester Pro Bono Celebration with BLSPI's Pro Bono Committee.
- Brooklyn Law School Partner — Collaborates with Brooklyn Law School through a grant committee composed of faculty and alumni to administer bar grants.
- Brooklyn Law School Partner — Hosts and supports the organization as a student-run entity at the law school.
- Catholic Charities Unaccompanied Minors Program Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Center for Family Representation Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Legal Services NYC Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- NYS Office of the Attorney General Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- New York City Law Department Partner — BLSPI Fellow placed for summer legal services
- Office of Public Service Programs Partner — Coordinates with the Mentorship Committee to support students seeking public interest work.
- Phi Delta Phi Partner — Co-hosts biannual blood drives with BLSPI.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Fellowship Placement in High-Impact Public Interest Rolesmethodology: student_fellowship_placementBy funding and placing law student fellows in organizations where their work is critical to delivering legal services and impact litigation, we amplify the reach of under-resourced legal groups, because student labor fills service gaps and advances systemic advocacy.
- Legal Empowerment for Self-Represented Litigantsmethodology: legal_empowermentBy providing accessible legal information to self-represented families in family court, we improve legal outcomes and reduce systemic inequities, because informed individuals are better able to navigate complex legal processes and assert their rights.
- Peer-Led Fellowship Selection and Mentorshipmethodology: peer_mentorship_modelBy using peer-led selection and cohort-based mentorship, we strengthen commitment to public interest law, because evaluation and guidance from near-peers reinforce professional identity, accountability, and long-term engagement in the field.
- Student-Run Public Interest Legal Modelmethodology: student_run_legal_serviceBy engaging law students in the leadership and operation of public interest legal initiatives, we produce greater access to justice for underrepresented communities, because student involvement expands capacity and ensures a pipeline of committed public interest attorneys.