Public Interest/Public Service Faculty Fellows

Created in 2005, the Public Interest Public Service Faculty Fellows program, is one component of the Law School’s dedication to enhancing students’ exposure to and knowledge of the importance of public service legal work. The program attracts experts in areas such as human rights, racial and environmental justice, and government public service. These faculty members, who are experienced practitioners, teach a wide array of courses that engage students in some of the most challenging issues of our day, while providing the practical realities of what it is like to work on a class action, represent the government in a complex environmental or civil rights case, or lobby for legislative reform. Students in their classes may find themselves on a police-ride along, at the FBI shooting range, or in other real life situations that make an invaluable contribution to understanding the cases and materials discussed in the classroom.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, the faculty fellows are available to assist students who are interested in pursuing a summer internship in a government agency or public interest office, or who want to discuss how to build a successful career in public service. They accomplish this through setting up brown bag lunch gatherings to talk to students in small groups, inviting guest speakers to meet with students, and one-on-one conversations. The addition of the PIPS Faculty Fellows allows students access to both individuals and networks that, combined with the work of the Office of Public Service, make pursuing a career in public service that much easier to attain.

"Professor Rosenbaum looked around the room full of people gathered for the reception launching the Public Interest/Public Service Faculty Fellows Program and said that he was proud to call the students in the room his peers. It was a singular moment for me. The room held Faculty Fellows who have utilized the law to fight for justice in youth detention centers, led one of the most power environmental organizations in the country, and advised the President of United States. His statement affirmed the potential that we Michigan Law students share, and the call to do amazing things with that potential."

- Kyle, 1L

"I am very excited about the Faculty Fellows program--I have taken classes with three of this year's Fellows and I think they are an invaluable resource for all law students at Michigan, not just those who are pursuing public interest careers. I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet with Faculty Fellows outside of the classroom setting and to learn from their practical experience. It's refreshing to be able to connect with professors that have distinguished themselves as professors and as legal practitioners."

- Fiza, 2L