Proceeds from March 9 gala will fund summer pro bono service by UH Law students

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Beverly Creamer, (808) 389-5736
Media Consultant, William S. Richardson School of Law
Posted: Mar 8, 2017

Attendees at the 2016 APIL Gala.
Attendees at the 2016 APIL Gala.

An organization of William S. Richardson School of Law students dedicated to providing assistance to those who cannot afford legal help is sponsoring its 7th Annual Fundraising Gala on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at the Laniakea YWCA at 1040 Richards Street.

The event, sponsored by Advocates for Public Interest Law or APIL, is scheduled for 5:30 to 9 p.m. with pupu, drinks, entertainment, and a live and silent auction.

Proceeds from the gala will fund summer grants for law students doing pro bono work for non-profit public interest law firms and agencies serving traditionally underserved groups. For law students with a passion for social justice, the APIL summer grants offer a chance to work in areas to make the most impact.

“The grant really opens up doors for students to explore non-profit work and give back to our community,” said Janjeera Hail ’18, one of this year’s event organizers and a 2016 grantee. The work I did at the Domestic Violence Action Center last summer would not have been possible if it had not been for APIL.”

Since its founding in 1985, APIL has awarded 145 summer grants to law students doing free legal work. These students have provided more than 40,000 free “billable hours” to more than 30 non-profit organizations that directly assist a wide variety of people in need, including immigrants, homeless individuals and families, and victims of elder abuse, domestic violence and sex trafficking.

Said Dean Avi Soifer, “Year after year, some of our most exceptional students serve as the leaders of APIL, and their hard work and the generosity of our community leads directly to legal assistance for people who are most in need.”

Hail said the gala “has generated tremendous enthusiasm and goodwill in the community, and attendance and support for the event continues to grow every year.”

The 2017 student grantees will be recognized at the gala, and there will be award presentations to a number of firms, organizations and individuals to honor their work promoting advocacy and increasing access to justice for Hawai'i’s marginalized populations.

Tickets are $25 for students and $35 for the general public for the event. Children 8 and younger are free. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://apilgala2017.ticketleap.com/event/

Tickets may be picked up at the door, but will also be available at the door on a walk-in basis. There is metered parking behind ‘Iolani Place, but parking is also available at Ali‘i Place at 1099 Alakea Street.

The silent auction items will include gift packages from local businesses, artwork, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates and more.

The Gala will feature performances by the Subpoenas (Jeffrey Oka '16, Winston Wong '16, ‘Olu Campbell '15) and Richardson’s renowned DJ, Lezlie “DJ Ezl” Kiaha ’16. 

Tax-deductible donations for the silent auction may be made by email to APIL@HAWAII.EDU.

Additional information about the organization is available by visiting www.APILATUH.com.

For more information, visit: https://www.law.hawaii.edu/