Public Interest in Action

Supporting Students Through the Professor Alan Morrison Public Interest Stipend Endowed Fund

Public interest work is at the heart of GW Law’s mission — advancing justice, serving individuals and communities, and ensuring the law works for everyone. Yet many of the early career professional experiences that shape committed public interest lawyers are either unpaid or underpaid. Established by Patricia Kelmar, JD '95, the Professor Alan Morrison Public Interest Endowed Stipend Fund helps close that gap by providing financial support to students pursuing meaningful, public interest roles.

Named in honor of Professor Alan Morrison, a nationally respected advocate, teacher, and co‑founder of Public Citizen Litigation Group, this fund also recognizes his 17 years of leadership as GW Law’s inaugural Lerner Family Associate Dean for Public Interest and Public Service Law, where he strengthened and expanded the school’s commitment to public interest and public service. Today, Alan's legacy continues through the students that this fund supports.

Why This Fund Matters

Public interest and public service placements — from legal services to advocacy organizations to government agencies — offer transformative experiences. They also often require students to choose between following their passion and managing financial realities.

Summer stipends of $5,000 (for 1Ls) or $6,000 (for 2Ls) make it possible for students to accept public interest roles they otherwise could not afford. We receive more requests than available funding each year, and a gift today can directly support a student’s public interest experience this summer.

Your support helps provide:

• Financial support for unpaid or underpaid public interest positions
• Support for summer placements, externships, and client-oriented legal work
• Opportunities for students to gain hands‑on experience, mentoring, and expertise

When students have the financial ability to pursue public interest work, they gain the experience, expertise, perspective, commitment, and networks that define exceptional public interest lawyers.