Ryan Poe-Gavlinski Named Inaugural Deputy Director of Economic Justice Institute
Ryan Poe-Gavlinski has been named the inaugural deputy director of University of Wisconsin Law School’s Economic Justice Institute (EJI).
In taking on the one-year appointment as EJI’s deputy director, Poe-Gavlinski is most excited about developing the position and providing “much needed” support to EJI’s Director Mitch.
When Mitch became the director of EJI in 2019, UW Law had four clinics, five staff and about 26 clinical students.
“In the last few years, EJI has grown and now encompasses six clinics, 10 staff and nearly 60 clinical students,” said Mitch. “Ryan’s tireless work is a large part of the reason for our growth, and I could not be more thrilled to continue working with her in her expanded role as deputy director.”
EJI is home to the UW Law School’s six civil, anti-poverty clinical programs, the Consumer Law Clinic, Eviction Defense Clinic, Family Court Clinic, Immigrant Justice Clinic, Neighborhood Law Clinic and the Restraining Order & Survivor Advocacy Clinic.
In addition to her new role with EJI, which became effective July 1, 2023, Poe-Gavlinski also serves as director of the Restraining Order and Survivor Advocacy Clinic (ROSA) and the director of the Lawyering Skills program.
above, left) received the
Outstanding Leadership award, one of the 2023 HR Partner Team Awards given during the HR@UW Conference in December 2023.
New Calendar Allows for Easy CLE Searching
Looking for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs that fit into your schedule? The new-and-improved Events Calendar allows you to filter for CLE events.
SDRI Launches Interactive Websites
The State Democracy Research Initiative (SDRI) has launched three interactive websites focused on state constitutions and democracy:
Access the new websites via the links above or by visiting the SDRI website.
An Exploration of Campus Free Speech
Dean Dan Tokaji joined Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin for an exploration of campus free speech last September.
It’s a challenging moment “to support both free speech and belonging in a time of intense polarized politics,” Mnookin said. Yet “it is very important that we as a university work to make everyone feel welcome here, and that is going to take more work,” Tokaji said.
Cornerstone of Commitment
Wisconsin residents who are enrolled members of federally recognized Wisconsin Indian tribes may have their University of Wisconsin Law School in-state tuition and fees covered as part of a new five-year pilot program. This is just one element of a wider Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise program announced by UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin last December.
Starting in the fall of 2024, the pilot program will cover resident tuition for full-time J.D. students for three academic years. Currently enrolled as well as newly incoming students will qualify regardless of financial need.
“This is a cornerstone of our commitment to increasing access while also growing our presence in areas of law that are essential to Native Nations and peoples,” said Dean Dan Tokaji.
The program does not rely on taxpayer funding, but is supported by other institutional resources, such as private donations.
Study Finds Civil Legal Aid Delivers 8.4x Economic Return to Badger State
New research shows more than an 8:1 return on investment for civil legal aid in Wisconsin, reflecting the impact of work done at University of Wisconsin Law School. According to the “Economic Impact of Civil Legal Aid in Wisconsin” study, the return of $8.40 on the dollar represented $176 million in measurable impacts.
“Civil legal aid provided by UW Law School’s clinical programs is part of this $176 million impact,” explained Mitch, UW Law clinical law professor and the director of the Economic Justice Institute.
Keith Findley Collection Now Available in Digital Repository
Professor Keith Findley retired last fall. In time for his last class, the Law Library announced a new Digital Repository collection: The Keith Findley collection, featuring over 200 briefs authored or co-authored over the course of Findley’s storied career. The collection is fully browsable and integrated with the Library’s Digital Repository, meaning users can search these briefs, along with Findley’s articles, books and chapters, alongside all of UW Law’s other faculty scholarship.