The PILA Auction
The organization’s primary fundraising event is the PILA Auction, held annually late in the fall semester. The PILA Auction consists of two discrete events, occurring just a few days apart:
- The live auction is held at the law school and features big ticket items and fan favorites, which are auctioned off by fast-talking and fiery law school professors. This event brings law students and law professors together to support PILA’s fundraising goals.
- The silent auction is held at a local venue in Charlottesville and is viewed by many as the social event of the season. This event features a DJ, dancing, and some exclusive auction items.
Local Charlottesville businesses and law firms across the country donate items ranging from dinners at award-winning restaurants to tuition discounts to fly fishing lessons in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The most unique, and often the most popular items, are donations from UVA Law professors, who offer to host students for a meal at their homes or challenge students to a tennis match. The live auction always includes big-ticket items such as European or beach vacations and autographed NFL footballs that students often pool resources to purchase. All proceeds of the event go towards UVA Law PILA Grants, which fund students working in non- or low-paying public interest jobs over the summer.