Public Interest Law Forum
Who We Are
PILF, the Public Interest Law Forum, is an organization whose purpose is to promote awareness of and interest in public interest law among NDLS students, faculty and administration. PILF defines “public interest law” broadly in recognition of the wide variety of career opportunities typically encompassed within the category of “public interest law,” including careers as legal services providers, criminal defenders and prosecutors, government attorneys, judicial clerks, and attorneys for non-governmental and non-profit organizations. PILF organizes fundraisers to raise money for public interest fellowships which allow NDLS students to intern during the summer for public interest agencies that cannot afford to pay interns. Finally, PILF plans talks and discussions by professors, NDLS graduates, and others on public interest law topics.
Membership in PILF is open to all NDLS students and faculty.
Officers
President:
Erinn Rigney is currently the President of PILF after being elected at the end of her 1L year. She is a 2004 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Political Science and History and a 2006 graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a M.Ed. in Secondary Education. Before returning to Notre Dame, Erinn taught high school Government and Law in Maryland in addition to managing the service learning program, advising the student government association and coaching soccer.
Vice-President of Fundraising:
Erin Orndorff is currently the Vice-President of Fundraising of PILF after being elected at the end of her 1L year. She is a 2009 graduate of the Ohio State University with a B.S. in Business Administration. Before attending Notre Dame, Erin worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Seniors Department of United Way in Tucson, Arizona.
Vice-President of Speakers:
Michael Gillman is currently the vice-President of Speakers of PILF after being elected at the end of his 1L year. Michael graduated from Furman University (Greenville, SC) in 2010 with a B.A. in political science.
Secretary:
Topher Regan is currently the Secretary of PILF after being elected at the end of his 2L year. Topher served as Vice-President of Speakers for the 2010-11 school year.
1L Representatives:
Brian Wright-Bushman studied philosophy as an undergraduate in California and completed a Masters of Theological Studies at Notre Dame. His primary interests in law, at least so far, are immigration law, legal aid work of all sorts, and prisoner’s rights.
Nathan Catanese spent the last four years working as a legislative aid on Capitol Hill and is excited to assist other students in developing a focus in public interest law.
Bryan Evans is from the Cleveland area and hopes to return there upon graduation. His focus in Public Interest law stems from a summer experience volunteering at Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic in Chicago.
Mike Grathwol is from Sandusky, Ohio and graduated from Notre Dame in 2010 with a major in Finance. Following graduation, Mike chose to do a year of unpaid service in Savannah, Georgia working with the aged, blind and disabled. This experience has inspired him to look deeper into public interest law.
Katelyn Lentz earned her undergraduate degree from Notre Dame. Before coming to law school she explored many different public interest areas. Domestically she has worked at the United States Senate, the F.B.I., and the American Red Cross. Internationally she has worked in Uganda with Catholic Relief Services on children’s rights issues, India with a lawyer working with Pakistani migrants, and South Africa with both immigrants and underprivileged populations.
Peter Ryan hails from Southern California and studied International Relations at USC. Before coming to NDLS, Peter worked as flight instructor.
