News

Duke Law School's Public Interest Law Foundation will host its annual Auction and Gala on Friday, Feb. 27 at the Terry Sanford Institute for Public Policy Studies, located across the street from the Law School on the Duke University campus. Detailed information about the Auction, including how to become involved, how to bid, a complete list of donated items, and more, is available at http://www.law.duke.edu/student/act/pilf/Auction2004/home.html.

Last year's record-breaking event raised nearly $30,000 in fellowship funds for Duke Law students working in non-paying public interest jobs last summer. This year, members of the Duke Law community will come together for a night of fun and fundraising featuring donated items ranging from restaurant gift certificates to exotic European getaways. The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction. A professional auctioneer will lead the live auction portion of the evening, which should begin around 9:00 p.m.

Last year's event featured more than 200 items, with early-arriving guests picking up silent auction bargains such as two autographed posters of the men's basketball team ($60 each), lunch for six ($45), and a box of Monte Cristo cigars ($200). Live auction items included the perennially popular Game Night with Professors Jim and Doriane Coleman (final bid $900), a week at a house in Provence, France ($4,700), two basketballs signed by the Duke men's team ($600 each); a parking pass for the Law School parking lot ($500); and an exemption from basketball ticket campout ($550).

PILF is a student-led, non-profit organization that works to provide financial support to students who work in the public interest during the summer. Last year, PILF saw a record number of applications for summer support from students working in a wide variety of government and non-profit offices, both domestically and internationally. In addition to the auction, another way PILF raises money is through the sale of gear bearing the "Duke Law" name and logo. The group recently launched a website featuring these items, which include Duke Law t-shirts, sweatshirts, fleece jackets and baby bibs, to name just a few. Purchase your items today. All proceeds of the sale of these items go to PILF.

Another annual fundraising project is PILF's pledge drive, during which the group asks all students who secure paid summer employment to pledge a day of their salary to PILF to help support those students working in public interest. In most cases, the firm where the donating student works agrees to match that contribution. In addition, PILF organizes a golf tournament each year during alumni weekend, enabling alumni and friends catch up with old classmates and professors on the golf course while raising money for a good cause.

For more information on any of these events, please visit http://www.law.duke.edu/student/act/pilf/.