By: Michele Lynn
This past spring, as members of the UNC School of Law class of 2025 finalized plans for life after law school, the third-year student class also committed to creating a legacy. In an effort led by class president Rob Jarrell, Student Bar Association president Josh Jacobs, and third-year class representatives Wendy Zheng and Tom Betz, the students collaborated on the Carolina Law class of 2025 gift to support public interest summer grants.
Following a school tradition that began a decade ago, the third-year law student class came together to provide critical support for students taking on unpaid public interest work over the summer. By providing funding for this endowment, the graduating students helped alleviate financial barriers so that first-year and second-year students could pursue meaningful, justice-driven summer jobs without having to choose between passion and practicality.
“People who take on summer public interest positions are very rarely paid, and if they are paid, it’s not much at all,” said Betz, who oversaw the class gift campaign. “People who take these positions are incredibly selfless because, as a law student, summer is when you rely on making enough money to help support yourself throughout the academic year.”
Betz appreciates the contributions of his classmates, noting that by giving to the endowment, third-year students affirmed their willingness to help their peers who work to ensure that justice is accessible to all. He notes that since there are limited opportunities for first-year students to find summer jobs at a law firm, many of his peers accept public interest-related internships, even if their ultimate goal is working at a law firm.
Working in partnership with the Carolina Law Office of Advancement, Betz and his team tabled in the lower rotunda of the law school three days a week throughout the spring. In addition to encouraging students to donate — with a suggested amount of $20.25 to represent the class year of 2025 — the organizers created other opportunities for students to give back. This included writing a thank-you note to a favorite professor or staff member who impacted their Carolina Law journey and updating post-graduation contact information so that the UNC Law Alumni Association has contact information after students can no longer access their unc.edu email address. Students who completed any of these actions received Carolina Law merchandise, including hats, visors, and bags.
The leadership of this effort invited classmates to join in this effort by noting, “We’ve been there for each other through late-night study sessions, finals, and internships. Now, let’s be there for the next class of public interest lawyers.” The nearly 100 donors — the highest number in recent years — were comprised primarily of students but also included alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends.
In a video on the campaign page, third-year law students invited their peers to participate in the campaign by explaining that the public interest grants mean “…justice isn’t just for those who can afford it…we can stand up for those who need it most…a stronger, fairer legal system for everyone.”
