Gluck Fellowship
To honor the memory of their parents, Rich Gluck, ’90 and Mitchell Gluck established the Harry and Jean Gluck Social Justice Law Fellowship at Santa Clara Law. Since summer 2010, this grant has provided financial assistance to a Santa Clara law student working in a public interest or social justice law summer position that will promote the public service values that characterized the work and lives of Harry and Jean Gluck. Harry Gluck devoted his professional life to bettering the lives and working conditions of public employees throughout California, while Jean Gluck worked tirelessly providing comfort and aid to the homeless and mentally ill. Both also contributed their talents, time, and money to organizations dedicated to promoting equal rights and fighting discrimination in all forms. Applicants should show a demonstrated commitment to and interest in one of these areas of law.
Eligibility
Santa Clara law students who have completed at least one year of full-time or part-time study by the start of the summer fellowship are eligible for grants. Applicants must arrange a full-time summer law position with a public interest or social justice organization. Qualifying organizations include legal service agencies or other not-for profit providers of legal services. Government offices that focus on civil public interest work will qualify, but judicial externships will not. Students who receive academic credit for a summer job are not eligible to receive public interest summer grants
Selection Process and Criteria
Applicants must submit their completed applications through the on-line application form. Grantees will be honored at the Public Interest and Social Justice Law Celebration and Graduation Ceremony in May. Grantees are required to submit a brief report at the conclusion of their work.
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Strong interest in a career in public interest and social justice law. The student need not demonstrate that he or she ultimately will pursue a public interest law career but should provide evidence that he or she is giving serious consideration to such work. Such evidence could include prior involvement in public interest and social justice activities.
- Developing ability and strength in working with legal problems and materials. This criterion may be met in part by indications of successful academic performance in law school courses, but it also may be demonstrated through other types of successful involvement in legal projects.
- Additional consideration will be given to students with demonstrated financial need.
Applications must include the following attachments:
- A letter from the public interest employer confirming a summer job offer for at least 40 hours per week for at least ten weeks. (This letter need not be included with the initial application, but must be provided before the grant money is distributed.)
- A resume.
- A personal statement explaining (1) the work or project for which the student proposes to use this fellowship; (2) how the work will develop the student’s legal skills, (3) how the work will further the student’s professional interests and goals, and (4) the student’s commitment to public interest and social justice law
- A transcript of law school grades.
- Optional: Any other available documentation of the student’s ability and strength in working with legal problems and materials.
- Optional: A statement of financial need
2019 Fellowship Recipient
Edwin Aguilar-Miramontes
EEOC
2019 Fellowship Recipient
Elia Kazemi
Law Foundation Silicon Valley Health Legal Services Department
2018 Fellowship Recipient
Sarah Swaty
The United Nations Development Program in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2017 Fellowship Recipient
Erin Flowers
Fair Housing Project, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
2016 Fellowship Recipient
James Mulgannon
Homeless Advocacy Project
2015 Fellowship Recipient
Andrew Rivera
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
2014 Fellowship Recipient
Mariah Snowden
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
2013 Fellowship Recipient
Diego Aviles
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
2012 Fellowship Recipient
Marie Rafanan
The Alliance for Children’s Rights
2011 Fellowship Recipient
Carolyn Kim
Public Advocates
2010 Fellowship Recipient
Camille Alfaro-Martell
Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley
