William H. Gates Public Service Law Program

As a public institution, �鶹�� Law promotes social justice and equity, engaging in today’s pressing issues across the landscape of law, business and public policy. Advancing access to justice and opening opportunity is integral to who we are.

The William H. Gates Public Service Law Program, named in honor of William H. Gates Sr. and his commitment to public service, is the central hub for public service and public interest law at �鶹�� Law. The program encompasses events and programming, career coaching and academic advising, pro bono service and leadership development.

Our students are presented with many opportunities to help reduce the barriers in access to justice and build the foundation to a career in public service, including:

Public Service Graduation Requirement

J.D. students are required to perform at least 50 hours of public service legal work through clinics, select externships, or other approved pro bono projects with the goals of:

Educating students about an attorney’s ethical responsibility to provide pro bono legal assistance, particularly to those who would not otherwise have access to the legal system.
Fostering in students a lifelong commitment to public service by providing the opportunity and training vital to the development of such a commitment.
Developing students’ lawyering skills by providing them with work experience under the supervision of an attorney.

Public Service Concentration Track

J.D. students also have the opportunity to pursue a . Upon completion, graduates receive special notation on their transcript.

Gates Public Service Law Program news

The Gates Scholars pose for a group photo.

Making Public Service a Reality

Published: November 10, 2025

The Gates Public Service Law Program has awarded five 1L students full support for their education at �鶹�� Law in exchange for their commitment to public service.

Upcoming Events

Gates Speaker Series: The Power of Advocacy, Storytelling, and Restorative Justice

When: Monday, November 17, 2025, 4 – 7pm PST
Where:

Monday, November 17, 2025, 4:00pm - 5:30pm |
Speakers:

Jeremiah “J.J.” Bourgeois, J.D., ‘23 JD from Gonzaga School of Law, Judicial Law Clerk for Judge George B. Fearing, WA Court of Appeals Div III
Oloth Insyxiengmay, Director, Rooted Community, Member Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group (APICAG)
Aaron Faletogo, Referral Administrator, Restorative Community Pathways

Drawing from their lived experiences as people who were incarcerated as children and spent decades within Washington State’s adult criminal legal system, our panelists offer unique insight into how redemption and healing can be possible. We invite you to a thoughtful and compelling panel discussion featuring three individuals who have turned their journeys toward accountability, advocacy, and healing. This discussion will illuminate how storytelling, effective advocacy, and restorative justice practices can drive meaningful reform, foster stronger communities, and deliver better outcomes for all.
Join us for a conversation moderated by Sue Han, �鶹�� Law 3L, and Ian Calvert, �鶹�� Law 3L, that challenges, inspires, and invites us all to consider what justice can look like moving forward.
Date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Time: 4:00–5:30 PM (Speaker) | 5:30–7:00 PM (Reception)
Location: Room 138, �鶹�� Law School | Reception in the Galleria
Register on 12Twenty or follow this link to register:
Social Justice Tuesday - Meeting the Moment With Ethical Storytelling: Navigating Fear, Minimizing Harm, and Centering Humanity

When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 12:30 – 1:20pm PST
Where:

Hosted by Student Advocates for Immigrant (SAI) Justice, we will discuss working with vulnerable clients in the midst of the current administration's practices and how to tell clients' stories humanely yet powerfully. Students will leave ready to collaborate with immigrant clients to tell stories rooted in dignity, empathy, and truth—working alongside them in ways that honor their voices, avoid harm, and resist fearmongering, trauma exploitation, or further marginalization. We will also discuss how to tell a client's story in a memo, declaration, or orally in court in a way that highlights resilience, but remains effective and persuasive.

We will have three panelists - Tye Reed (community organizer and former interim Executive Director at Real Change Newspaper), Wendy Roman (NWIRP attorney and �鶹�� law alum), and Assistant Teaching Professor Jaclyn Celebrezze.

if joining us in Room 138 for lunch. Please also email gatespsl@uw.edu by this time if you have special dietary needs.

Public service is community. It’s the idea of seeing a problem and taking it upon yourself to be part of the solution with whatever means you may have at your disposal, whether time, money or effort.
— Karla Davis, Gates Scholar 2017