Cumberland School of Law's Career Development Office (CDO) hosted the school's annual Public Interest Brunch on Thursday, March 3. Guests represented public interest organizations from across the state of Alabama to meet and discuss their careers with Cumberland students.  

This event is one of many events that provide opportunities for students to be introduced to various practice areas and professionals in those respective areas. The brunch and other events this year have been well attended by students, attorneys and other organizations.

Rachel Martin, assistant director of career development, created the program schedule and has developed events such as last fall's Meet the Market and the Alternative Career Fair. She said, “I want to create events with environments where our students and guests feel comfortable interacting with each other. Last fall, I had to get creative and host an event outside on the plaza with extra safety precautions because of Covid. The event turned out to be the largest gathering of our alumni since the pandemic started. For this event, I wanted to ditch the stuffy impersonal job fair structure and let our students and employers get to know each other over coffee and brunch.”

The Public Interest Brunch included employers from Equal Justice Initiative, Alabama Appleseed, and the Alabama State Bar’s Volunteer Lawyer’s program in Montgomery to local nonprofits such as Alabama Aids Outreach and Legal Services. The Tuscaloosa Public Defender also participated.

Beth Chmura, program assistant for career development, is responsible for the logistics required to execute big events like the public interest brunch.  “It’s really fun to help create these programs because I have found students and our outside guests are more ready than ever to have an opportunity to interact face-to face.”