Michael Madow Bar Grant Program
Program Overview
For over a decade, BLSPI has auspiced a grant program offering $1,000 each to a number of graduating students who are dedicated to entering the public interest law sector. We also give a special thanks to the Leo Rosner Family Foundation for their continued support of this Program.
As public interest-minded students graduate from BLS, they are faced with financial hurdles that are unique to those seeking to enter public interest or government work. Bar review courses can cost upwards of $4,000, while bar examination fees average hundreds of dollars. Studying for the bar exam is a full-time endeavor for nine weeks, leaving little to no time for graduates to earn any supplemental income. Public interest-minded graduates, oftentimes without a future employer willing to subsidize these expenses, and because federal student loans do not cover bar exam preparation and cost of living during this time, are frequently forced to seek private loans to subsidize this transitional period.
BLSPI responded to this need by sourcing this grant program that lowers the post-graduation financial hurdles for students pursuing public interest law. We hope many 3Ls apply, including non-BLSPI members who meet the qualifications!
2026 Michael Madow Bar Grant Applications
To apply for a BLSPI Bar Grant, you must:
1. Be a student who is graduating from Brooklyn Law School in Spring or Fall of 2026 and be sitting for any state’s bar exam in July 2026 or February 2027
2. Complete and anonymously submit the following application by 11:59 PM Friday, March 27, 2026. Late applications will not be considered. The independent Bar Grant Committee (explained below) expects to notify applicants of its decisions in early May; and
3. Please send any questions you may have, to madowbargrant@blspi.org
4. Applications will go live on blspi.org on Monday, March 5, 2026. Access the application using the "Apply Here" button
Distribution of Funding:
The Bar Grant Committee, comprised of Brooklyn Law School professors and alumni, will disburse Grants of $1,000 each. Applications will be anonymous and the Committee will evaluate and select Grant recipients based purely on the applicants’ merits.
Criteria and Eligibility:
Selection criteria will be based on:
1. Demonstrated commitment to the public interest;
2. Intent to pursue a legal career in the public interest; and
3. History of service to public interest organizations and pro bono projects at Brooklyn Law School (service to BLSPI is neither required nor prioritized).
Public interest is defined as the work of:
* 501(c)(3) organizations within the United States;
* Federal, state and city government organizations, including judicial chambers;
* International intergovernmental organizations not organized for monetary gain; and
* Foreign non-governmental organizations recognized by the committee as pursuing the public good.
The following is not considered work in the public interest:
* Employment that primarily benefits the members of a limited membership organization such as a credit union, fraternal or religious order, or a cooperative;
* Work for which one’s political support or party affiliation is taken into account in the hiring decision; and
* Direct lobbying on the federal, state or local government level.
Any question of what qualifies as public interest work will be resolved at the Committee’s sole discretion. Committee determinations are final. Individuals who are receiving subsidization of their bar review course are eligible to apply. An awardee is encouraged to return the grant value if they are employed at a non-public interest job on the first anniversary of their graduation from Brooklyn Law School.
Michael Madow Bar Grant Recipients
2025
Albulena Uka
Ava Delargy
Christopher Maiolie
Eberechukwu Osu
Erica Levy
Eva Ackerman
Henry Hale
Jenna Marino
Jennifer Evans
Jennifer Greer
Joseph Anid
Kathryn Korolishin
Kayleigh Kelly
Liam Higgins
Maria Kilcullen
Matthew Capece
Mengfei Leng
Nick Lindsey
Taylor Seymour
Veronica Galek
Virginia Fatt
2024
Bianca Li
Julia McHale
Kaitlin O'Connell
Meredith Yates
Shayna Goldberg
Petro Zinchenko
Nicole Davidson
Jami Nicholson
Alexandra Berlingeri
Caroline Golub
Mackenzie Kramer
Jonathan Doolittle
Engin Polar
Marlon Amaya
Moriah Schindler
Chelsea Halsted
Shel Wise
Lubaba Ahmed
Austen Fisher
Jessica Flaherty
Torrey Crim
Steph Pettit
Nicole Reed
Alma Lawson-Garcia
Alison Peebles
2023
Kathleen Giunta
Clara Williams
Kaitlyn Pavia
Anjani Shah
Bryanna Rainwater
Allyssa Myers
Tyler Tanner
Shina Bharadwaja
Kayla Brown
Jacqulyn Kushner
Wilson Baer
Katana Meganck
Nicolette Kelly
Abby Fink
Kevin Gullufsen
Bailie Smith-Hunter
Angela Pugliese
Sophia Ottoni-Wilhelm
Mariya Budiyanskaya
Leisa Rockelein
Elisa Jastremski
Samantha Past
Brittany Bastien
Paige Massaker
Ramsha Ahmad
London Rodrigues
2022
Monica Rashed
Amal Alzendani
Sydney Segal
Taylor McCandless
Haley Carney
Alessandro Nardi
Matthew Boyd
Karla Gonzalez
Gavriella Fried
Zachery Penzone
Erica Baker
Xinxin Zhou
Meghan Johnke
Rachel Marc
Carlon Campbell
Monica Rashed
