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Advancing fairness, equity, and justice

Loyola’s Curt and Linda Rodin Center for Social Justice builds upon the School of Law’s unwavering commitment to social justice. We strengthen and develop several leading programs that advance fairness, equity, and justice within the Law School and in marginalized communities throughout Chicago. We're committed to helping students learn how the law can be a tool for justice, and to embrace social justice work as a life-long commitment through their public interest legal careers, pro-bono activities, and in their communities.

Director: Kate Mitchell

Our Programs

Loyola’s clinical programs provide learning opportunities for our students to use their professional skills to serve the most vulnerable members of our communities, while gaining invaluable real-life practical training as student clinicians and agents for social change.

Specifically, the Center supports the following clinics, programs, and initiatives:

Rodin Center Fellowship Program

Annually, the Center offers three or four Curt and Linda Rodin Social Justice Fellowships to law students to develop the skills needed to work with underserved individuals and communities through litigation, legislative and policy reform, or other work that strengthens communities.

This year four students will be selected as the 2024-2025 Curt and Linda Rodin Social Justice Fellows to help to promote social justice programming, service, and careers. The Rodin fellowship is intended to support students with strong leadership skills who are committed to careers in social justice and public interest work.  

Full-time 2L and Part-time 3L students are eligible to apply. (See application below.) Fellows will receive a total of $2785 per semester in tuition remuneration over their last three semesters (Total tuition support $8625) and a $6,000 summer stipend to support unpaid social justice and public interest work during the summer before their last year of law school. The fellowship is renewable based on satisfactory academic performance and full participation in program activities and a summer internship as described below. 

Fellowship expectations:

  • Develop, lead, promote and participate in school and community programming related to social justice and public interest law.  
  • Complete a 10-week summer internship immediately before their last year of law school with a nonprofit or government agency engaging in social justice or public interest work in support of people living in poverty or otherwise facing oppression or marginalization (students can seek an exception to this requirement by proposing support for an unpaid internship at another entity which provides direct legal services to people living in poverty or otherwise marginalized); 
  • Complete the requirements for the Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate;  
  • Maintain academic good standing; 
  • Help plan and attend an annual Social Justice Symposium and other programs, events and activities sponsored by the Center.  
  • Commit, upon graduation, to serving, representing, or advocating on behalf of indigent persons, disadvantaged groups, or inadequately protected interests.  
  • Return to the Law School in person and/or virtually to meet with and mentor law students and report on their social justice work post-graduation.  

Selection criteria and process:

Social Justice Fellows will be selected based upon their leadership potential and commitment to social justice work as demonstrated through activities and/or life experiences prior to and during law school. Diversity of background and experience and availability to engage in social justice and public interest activities and mentor other students is also highly valued.  

Interested students must submit a completed application, which includes: 

  • Application  
  • 500-word essay
  • Resume 
  • Unofficial transcript for all law school coursework completed to date to ensure student is in academic good standing 

Fellowship applications will be available by October 16, 2023, and will be due by the end of October 31, 2023. 

Fellowship applications will be reviewed by the Rodin Fellowship Selection Committee in early November.  Ten students will be selected for interviews with the Committee and 4 students will be offered a fellowship.  

For more information, contact Kate Mitchell, Rodin Center Director at kmitchell9@luc.edu. 

Rodin Center Fellows

  

Carly Gustaveson obtained her bachelor's in psychology from Idaho State University. She worked in community mental health for several years before transitioning to the criminal legal system, where she worked as a case manager in probation and pretrial. Carly's goal is to work in public defense. Last summer, she interned with the Office of the State Appellate Defenders, where she hopes to work upon graduation.

 

Last summer Julian Quiroga-Cubillos worked at Beyond Legal Aid and expanded on his understanding and practice of community lawyering. Julian helped different community members with their immigration issues as well as some housing, and family law matters. Right now, Julian is working as a PILI intern at NIJC in their counter trafficking project. 

 

Laura Christensen Garcia is committed to use her legal degree to build a more just and equitable society. Laura spent her 1L summer at UNITE HERE Local 1 in Chicago and her 2L summer at UNITE HERE Local 11 in Los Angeles, California. Through her work at two militant and progressive locals, Laura has developed a strong commitment to the labor movement which she continues to develop as a law clerk at Dowd, Bloch, Bennett, Cervone, Auerbach & Yokich. A California native, Laura plans to return to the west coast after graduation where she will continue to fight for the working class.   

Our Faculty

While issues of social justice are addressed throughout the School of Law curriculum, nine Loyola faculty and staff members have been recognized as Curt and Linda Rodin Professors of Law and Social Justice for their work on behalf of underserved individuals and marginalized communities. These professors serve a leadership role in mentoring students and providing meaningful teaching, scholarship, and advocacy in this area.

Certificate

Loyola Law offers the Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate, which is designed to prepare students to represent underserved populations and protect the legal rights of those in need.

Pursuing social justice

Pursuing social justice

Rodin Fellows find meaningful work experiences for life after law school.

Learn More