As the law school’s largest student-run event, Quinnipiac’s annual PILP Auction funds unpaid public interest summer internships by providing critical grants to students.  

On February 27, PILP leaders wearing yellow hazmat suits and PILP board members and volunteers in monster onesies opened the kid-friendly decorated bedroom doors leading to the School of Law lobby and Brooke A. Goff Ceremonial Courtroom, and welcomed a crowd of supporters who brought the energy for a great cause — ultimately raising more than $24,000.

“It’s been months of planning, so it’s really thrilling to see it all come together,” said Lily Eicholzer JD ’26, PILP vice president of Auction Logistics.  

Unveiling a different theme each year, the highly anticipated auction brings the law school community together for an unforgettable evening of food, drink, and some very competitive bidding. Hundreds of silent and live auction items are contributed each year by faculty, alumni, students, staff, local businesses and organizations. 

“It’s super great when people are interested in public interest law and helping serve their communities, and there’s such a necessity for them right now,” said Kate Woloszyn, JD '26, who serves as PILP co-president with Kassidy Planas, JD ’27. “That’s why it’s so nice to see everyone come back and support students who need these grants for such an important cause as public interest law internships.” 

“In addition to the incredible support of our faculty, seeing students support other students is just so amazing,” Planas added. “We’re all in law school, and it’s great that we can come together and have an event like this where we can dedicate our time to something that is so incredibly important.” 

While each annual PILP auction is defined by a unique theme, the heart of the night remains unchanged, said School of Law Dean Brian Gallini.  

“The PILP auction is our largest student-run event. It’s an act of community generosity and community power that ensures that our students can pursue public interest opportunities without shouldering the financial burden of unpaid legal work,” Dean Gallini said.  

Through the generosity of donors and bidders, PILP recipients have interned with public interest organizations including state and federal public defender offices, attorneys general bureaus, immigration units, offices of environmental protection, gender-based violence protection offices, and many other legal assistance organizations across the region. 

2025 PILP grant recipients were Michelle Perruzzi JD ’27, who interned with the Special Litigation Section of the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General; Cathryn Skelly JD ‘27 and Ieasha Williams JD ‘27, who both served with the Federal Public Defender’s New Haven Office; and Mason Towery JD ’27, who served with a special unit of the Connecticut Public Defender Services. 

“Those placements matter, and those clients matter,” said Dean Gallini.  

While the imaginary world of Monstropolis may rely on creating fear to power its city, those seeking the help of public interest lawyers face the reality of fear, he said. 

“Many of the people our students serve face real fear – fear of eviction, fear of the legal system, fear of incarceration, fear of losing their families or their stability,” Dean Gallini said. “Public interest lawyers step into that fear and meet it with courage, with compassion, and with creativity. They power change not with intimidation, but with humanity.” 

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