Applying for Public Interest Jobs 2026

This panel explores the different types of public interest career pathways one can take and how to set yourself up for success when applying to these opportunities. Topics include important skills to develop and highlight as a law student interested in a public interest career, strategies for making yourself a competitive candidate in the legal market right now, and approaches to building a meaningful and sustainable public interest career.

Panelists:
Nicolas Kabat, Staff Attorney, Center for Reproductive Rights
Tobara Richardson, Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety, City of Chicago
Shelby Smith, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Micauri Vargas, Litigation Counsel, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Moderator:
Lupita Colon, Assistant Director of Strategic Engagement, American Constitution Society