By JODI SOKOLOWSKI
Buffalo Law Journal

A box at Madison Square Garden for a New York Knicks game, New York Mets tickets, and autographed Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills memorabilia will be the big-ticket items at the University at Buffalo Law School Buffalo Public Interest Law Program's annual auction next week (see box for details).

The nonprofit's 13th auction will be bigger and better than last year's, said Britten Cosgrove, who's serving as fundraising co-vice president along with Robert Steinwachs. Both are second-year UB Law students.

The event draws mainly UB Law alumni and friends, but anyone is welcome to attend.

"We made a group decision to make this event appealing for lawyers and professionals, not just students," Cosgrove said.

Auction items range from salon and restaurant gift certificates to theater, concert and sporting-event tickets.

Local sports memorabilia to be auctioned include a jersey signed by former Bill Jim Kelly and autographed photographs of Sabres Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek, while non-local sports items include a Pete Rose-signed baseball and a Boston Red Sox game photo signed by Curt Schilling.

"(We have) a lot of great sports memorabilia. We're hoping it will help us a lot. We tried to get some bigger items for bigger prices," Cosgrove said, noting that fine art is also expected to bring in sizable bids.

Proceeds go to UB Law students who accept unpaid summer positions in public-interest law.

Public-interest law encompasses the areas of domestic violence, child advocacy, human rights, poverty law, elder law and environmental law.

"I think there's a lot of interest at law school for those who might want to go into the public sector. But the down side is, those jobs don't pay very well, so students get discouraged from doing what they love," Cosgrove said.

The funds from BPILP's auction go to about 20 fellowships that pay $3,000 for each 10-week internship. The group can also offer half fellowships for students who obtain five-week internships. Last year, the auction raised $25,000, with every dollar going to 19 fellowships. While some students receive local internships, for example at the Erie County District Attorney's Office, others go across the state, to the New York State Office of the Attorney General, and even overseas; one student was assigned to the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

The award process is competitive, but students who are BPILP members and collect donations for the auction have better chances at receiving a fellowship.

"We like to give back to the students who help," Cosgrove said.