A judge in a black robe standing beside a person in a suit inside a courtroom.

(Left to right) Hon. Susan M. Eagan ’96, Erie County Court, with her summer intern, Phillip Heard ’27.

Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program

Delivering access to justice while preparing students to become excellent, ethical, and engaged lawyers.

Our Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program supports students completing meaningful public‑interest internships while expanding access to justice in underserved communities. Each summer, donor support allows selected students with strong academic records and a commitment to public service to receive stipends ranging from $1,500 to $4,500. Funding supports 8‑week, full‑time placements at nonprofits, government agencies, or other public‑interest organizations.

2025 Summer Fellows
“Without your generous support, it would be much more difficult to pay my expenses and I would not have been able to put as much effort into public interest law as I have. This internship was invaluable, and I look forward to continuing a career in public service.”
2/27/26

Zachary Miller '26

“Thanks to this fellowship, I was able to devote my full attention to helping those less privileged than I while improving essential legal skills, including research, writing, and client communication.”
2/27/26

Maddy Henning ’27

“I would like to thank Douglas and Grace Dimitroff for making it possible for me to work in this role this summer.  If not for their help, I likely would not have been able to take on this position and gain the insight and experiences that I have thus far. ”
2/27/26

Brian Gleason ’27

“Over this summer, I have not only been able to survive, but also to thrive in the experience I have been granted. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to be able to work with our great public servants, and none of it would have been possible without [this Fellowship].”
2/27/26

Nicholas Kent ’27

“Your investment in students like me truly makes a difference—not only in our individual paths, but in the broader mission of building a more just and equitable legal system.”
2/27/26

Mary Lemak ’27

“My biggest goal has been to live and work in New York City, and through the support of this fellowship I was able to fully immerse myself in my role at the Eastern District of New York without worrying about the financial strain that came with the opportunity.  I am deeply thankful for your generosity in helping me make my goal a reality!”
2/27/26

Josette Fleming ’27

“Because of this fellowship, I was able to spend my summer fully immersed in public interest work, representing vulnerable clients in court and advocating for their safety and dignity.”
2/27/26

Anna Northrup ’27

“This experience has reinforced my belief that there is a need for willing and qualified tax attorneys to step in to offer guidance.”
2/27/26

Michael Barry '26

“I was already convinced of the profound consequence of courtroom attorneys. Now I am convinced it is my calling to be one.”
2/27/26

Brian Murphy ’27

“Advocacy is a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and I am grateful for the opportunity to get my foot in the door. ... On behalf of my team and my clients I can unequivocally say this opportunity has made a difference in so many lives.”
2/27/26

Emily Applegate ’27

“Pursuing a public service career offered me opportunities to contribute to society and protect the rights of individuals.”
2/27/26

David Belkin '27

“This internship has provided me with valuable insight, in and out of the courtroom, that will continue to influence my legal career for years to come.”
2/27/26

Brooke Conly ’27

“My internship at the District Attorney's Office was an extremely valuable experience, and the BPILP Fellowship enabled me to work at this internship without suffering any adverse financial effects.”
2/27/26

John Tipton ’27

“Because of this experience, I have been able to narrow my career focus to that of a litigator and will be able to expand the scope of my legal employment as a result.”
2/27/26

Ian Klenk ’27

“This internship deepened my commitment to justice and gave me hands-on experience I'll carry forward in my legal career. I'm incredibly grateful, your contributions truly made this possible.”
2/27/26

James Z. Murphy ’27

“I would like to sincerely thank all of the donors to the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP) who made this internship possible for me. ... Your support made this experience accessible, and I'm truly appreciative of the investment you've made in my education and future.”
2/27/26

Madelyn McCormack ’27

“I am incredibly grateful to those who make this fellowship possible and who continue to invest in students like me who are eager to use the law for the public good.”
2/27/26

Grace Martone ’27

“Throughout the course of my internship I learned so much about the US immigration process that I would not have been able to learn elsewhere. This hands-on experience has helped me gain confidence in my legal skills which will carry over into my coursework and future legal work.”
2/27/26

Taylor Tyburski ’27

“This fellowship allowed me to spend the summer learning and developing as a law student without having to worry about my finances. In other words, I could be all-in without having to take an additional job that would compromise my focus.”
2/27/26

Allie Mast ’27

“This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to a career in public defense. Your support gave me more than an internship it gave me purpose, perspective, and the tools to begin building the kind of lawyer I hope to be.”
2/27/26

Boris Melikhov ’27

“The lasting impact of the work, the mentorship of the office, and the intricacies of criminal law have had a profound impact on me and my future in the legal field.”
2/27/26

Alysyn Colangelo ’26

“Not only did this fellowship enable me to dedicate my summer to a non-profit organization, it allowed me to explore an area of the law that is new to me and to further my passion for advocacy of underrepresented individuals.”
2/27/26

Isabella DeFeo ’27

“Throughout the course of my internship I learned so much about the US immigration process that I would not have been able to learn elsewhere. This hands-on experience has helped me gain confidence in my legal skills which will carry over into my coursework and future legal work.”
2/27/26

James Wiesmore ’27

“Environmental law and wildlife advocacy have been passions of mine for many years, and I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to turn that passion into real-world impact.”
2/27/26

Anna Willis ’27

“I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to the donors of the Dean's Advisory Council Fellowship for making my internship experience possible. Your support allowed me to fully engage in this opportunity, gaining invaluable insight into the legal system while developing both personally and professionally.”
2/27/26

Jennifer McKnight ’27

“Because of this fellowship, I was able to determine what kind of lawyer I want to be, and further my pursuit in advocating for those who may not be able to afford representation otherwise. I have learned a great deal, and each day I learn new information about the law and how to be a great lawyer.”
2/27/26

Maria Sansone’27

“Because of this fellowship, I was able to determine what kind of lawyer I want to be, and further my pursuit in advocating for those who may not be able to afford representation otherwise. I have learned a great deal, and each day I learn new information about the law and how to be a great lawyer.”
2/27/26

Jenna Peinkofer ’27

“My experience at the Federal Courts this summer has been truly invaluable, and it would have been significantly more difficult to fully take advantage of it without your support. ... Your support allowed me to fully embrace this opportunity, focus on the work, and discover just how meaningful this path can be.”
2/27/26

Andrew Atkinson '27

“Being able to do this internship without having to worry about taking a second job  allowed me to put complete focus on learning about the court system, and being a good attorney. ... This fellowship allowed me to complete a judicial internship as well as fit in some extra experience with the Legal Aid Bureau giving me options that will make a huge difference in my career.”
2/27/26

Phillip Heard ’27

“Legal work can be a powerful force of healing and restoration when it centers the humanity of those we serve.”
2/27/26

Kayla Brooks ’27

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View all of our 2025 Summer Fellows  Click to view all of our 2025 Summer Fellows.
Available Fellowships External Fellowships FAQs

List of Available Fellowships for Summer 2025

  • Joseph Antonecchia Fellowship
  • Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Fellowship
  • Catalyst Public Service Fellowship
  • Class of 1979 1L Summer Fellowship
  • Ross M. Cellino ’82 & Anna Marie Cellino ’81 Summer Fellowship
  • Dr. Catherine Cerulli ’ 92 Women, Children & Social Justice Advocacy Award
  • John P. Comerford ’95 and Hope P. Comerford Fellowship
  • Dean’s Advisory Council Summer Fellowship
  • Dean’s Judicial Summer Fellowship
  • Douglas W. Dimitroff ’89 & Dr. Grace D. Dimitroff Summer Fellowship
  • Mary J. Dowd ’80 Fellowship
  • Family Violence & Women’s Rights Clinic Summer Fellowship
  • Freudenheim Fellowship
  • Blanche Gische & Helen Schurkman Fellowship Award for Elder Justice
  • Garry Graber ’78 Fellowship
  • Hodgson Russ, LLP 1L Summer Fellowship
  • Kaplan & Reynolds Summer Fellowship
  • Kristin Graham Koehler ’94 and David K. Koehler ’94 Judiciary Fellowship
  • Kristin Graham Koehler ’94 and David K. Koehler ’94 Public Interest Fellowship
  • Professor Virginia A. Leary Human Rights Summer Fellowship
  • Charles E. Mann Public Interest Award
  • Neil A. Pawlowski ’10 Fellowship
  • Savino Family Summer Fellowship
  • Clarence J. Sundram ’72 Fellowship
  • Professor Suzanne Tomkins ’92 Women, Children & Social Justice Advocacy Fellowship
  • UB Law Alumni Association Social Justice and Racial Equity Fellowship
  • UB Law Alumni Association’s Public Interest Fellowship
  • UB School of Law Public Interest Fellowship *
  • Hon. Dennis C. Vacco ’78 Summer Fellowship

*Made possible by a generous grant from Francis M. Letro ’79 and Cindy Abbott Letro