Professional Development Director Bennett Named to National Committee

Margann Bennett, director of Professional Development at Washburn Law, was named to the Equal Justice Works (EJW) National Advisory Committee (NAC).

Founded by law students in 1986, Equal Justice Works is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a just society by mobilizing the next generation of lawyers committed to equal justice. To achieve this, the EJW provides leadership, advice, and outreach for law students and lawyers that will enable them to provide effective representation to underserved individuals, communities, and causes.

Bennett’s role on the NAC will be to act as an ambassador to further EJW's initiatives at Washburn Law and to other law school professionals and students in the Midwest. "This is an opportunity to help students interested in public service identify career opportunities and apply for fellowships to fund them," said Bennett. Serving on the NAC will complement her role as director of Pro Bono at Washburn Law.

In her application, Bennett called attention to students in non-metropolitan areas feeling left out of the public interest conversation. "So much of the publicity around public interest legal careers focuses on programs in large metropolitan areas." She points out that EJW programming and training on how to conceive, develop, and implement a public interest project would be very beneficial.

EJW hosts one of the largest public interest law conference career fairs in the country, bringing students and public interest employers from across the country together in one place for job opportunities, networking, and leadership training.

Bennett’s two-year term EJW committee begins July 1. As an NAC member, she will also provide feedback on Equal Justice Works' existing programs and new initiatives.