Megan Lovett
Beginning a new job can be stressful and unfamiliar on its own, and starting one during a global pandemic only heightens the challenges and anxieties. Megan Lovett, the Assistant Director for Public Interest and Pro Bono Initiatives in Pitt Law’s Professional Development Office, was hired just before COVID-19 forced the closure of campus this spring.
“I started working at Pitt Law just after the pandemic closed campus, which was obviously a stressful and strange time. My favorite part has been how helpful and welcoming the entire community has been despite our distance, and of course, all the resources that we have at our disposal so I’m able to serve the students without a hiccup.”
In her new role, Megan counsels students on their job search with a focus on the public interest sector, and she coordinates, facilitates, and manages volunteer opportunities for students. In April, Megan hosted her first, and the law school’s annual, Soup’s On event, which honors recipients of public interest scholarships/fellowships, those who have performed significant volunteer, as well as the faculty and staff who support PLISF/public interest law.
“The best part of this job is the ability to enhance public service. It’s a more helicopter level of helping than working directly with clients like I used to do, but I connect students with a lot of different non-profits, and I try to develop new opportunities to meet new needs. I love seeing the impact the students make across the community,” Megan said.
Before Pitt Law, Megan worked as a legal aid attorney in Pittsburgh and cherished the part of her job spent recruiting, hiring, and working with interns. Even though she wasn’t planning on leaving litigation, she saw the job posting in an ACBA announcement and felt an immediate spark of interest.
While Megan hopes to step foot in her new office soon, she will continue to counsel students remotely. She often tells students, “You don’t have to devote your career to public interest in order to engage in public service. Using your skills to help vulnerable populations, beginning in law school, is a vital part of anyone’s career. It’s also a great form of networking and improves the legal community/”