Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is committed to training thoughtful, civic-minded lawyers who play active roles in their communities. This commitment was exemplified when Brandeis Law became one of the first five law schools in the country to adopt a public service requirement into the standard curriculum.

The Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program began in the spring of 1992 as a volunteer program and became a required component of the curriculum in 1994. The program is funded through an endowment created by Richard and Jane Eskind and John S. Greenebaum to honor the spirit of public service exemplified by their father, the late Samuel L. Greenebaum, a Louisville legal and civic leader.

Overview & Objectives

The Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program ensures that every Brandeis School of Law student engages in meaningful, supervised legal service during their time in law school. One of the first programs in the nation to require public service for graduation, it reflects Justice Brandeis’s belief that lawyers have a duty to serve the greater good.

Through this program, students gain practical experience, build professional networks and contribute to lasting change in the community. Whether through semester-long placements, intensive short-term projects or competitive fellowships, the program equips students to become ethical, engaged members of the legal profession.

Public Service Internships

The Greenebaum Public Service Program maintains more than 150 pre-approved volunteer placements with nonprofit organizations, judges and government agencies across the state and country. Students can review available opportunities and complete their service hours during the summer or academic year.

Placements expose students to real-world legal work while offering flexibility in areas of interest. These internships help students explore different types of practice, develop core legal skills and connect with professionals dedicated to public service.

One-Week Projects for 1Ls

First-year students have the unique option to complete their 30-hour service requirement early by participating in short-term public service projects after their first semester. These one-week opportunities immerse students in hands-on legal work while reinforcing core competencies like research, interviewing and client communication.

Past placements have included:

• Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
• Kentucky Refugee Ministries
• Legal Aid Society of Louisville
• Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission
• MothersEsquire
• Kentucky Commission on Human Rights

These projects provide a meaningful introduction to public interest work and give students a chance to make an early impact. As one student shared, “Being able to participate in the program helped me realize how rewarding it can be to help people. It made me even more determined to serve the community.”

Summer Fellowships

The Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program supports law students who dedicate their summers to serving the public. Through a variety of fellowships, students gain hands-on legal experience while advancing justice in communities across Kentucky and beyond. Fellowships are made possible through generous endowments and community support, and they provide stipends for students working in unpaid public service positions.

Available fellowships include:

• IOLTA Fellowship – Supports placements at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy and the Legal Aid Society of Louisville. Funded through the Kentucky Bar Foundation.
• Ellen Ewing Fellowship – Supports placements at the Legal Aid Society of Louisville. Funded through the annual Lawlapalooza benefit concert.
• Greenebaum Public Service Fellowships – Provide summer grants for students working in unpaid public service roles. Funded through the Samuel L. Greenebaum Endowment.
• Breonna Taylor Legacy Fellowships – Open to eligible students who secure summer volunteer positions with social justice nonprofits or agencies. Funded through the Breonna Taylor Fellowship Endowment.

Lawlapalooza

Lawlapalooza is the Louisville legal community’s annual battle of the bands, held each fall to support the Judge Ellen B. Ewing Foundation. The foundation funds summer fellowships for Brandeis students working in areas such as family law, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS advocacy at the Legal Aid Society.

Named in honor of Judge Ellen Ewing – a trailblazer and champion of public service – the event brings together lawyers, law students and faculty for a night of music, community and giving back. The winning band is determined by tip jar donations, with all proceeds going toward student fellowships.

Ewing Fellows gain direct client experience, conduct research, write legal documents and appear in hearings. As one fellow reflected, “I saw firsthand how attorneys not only offer legal support, but often emotional support as clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”

Lawlapalooza is a signature example of how the Greenebaum Public Service Program blends learning, leadership, and service to support both student development and community needs.