VOLS Microenterprise Project Pro Bono Scholar Parth Kalaria has had a longstanding interest in the intersection of business and law. As an undergraduate, he studied finance as part of the Business Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin. During college, Parth volunteered with Capital Community, a nonprofit dedicated to financial literacy efforts in the greater Austin area. This opportunity, coupled with a positive experience taking a Business Law course, solidified Parth’s interest in law school, as he aspired to pursue a career as a transactional attorney committed to financial literacy and pro bono.
After graduating from UT Austin, Parth decided to attend Columbia Law School given the school’s emphasis on transactional law and presence in New York City, a global center of law and finance. Besides making memories with close friends and faculty, Parth has spent time in law school working as a Summer Associate for various big law firms, along with taking on business internships in private equity and digital health strategy and operations. He spent his 3L Fall as a member of the Columbia Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic, providing direct legal services to small businesses in New York City. Parth’s commitment to pro bono extends beyond transactional law, as he spent his 2L Spring Break as a volunteer with the California Appellate Project, working on death penalty appellate cases. Moreover, he has taken on a diverse array of pro bono opportunities during his law firm summers, ranging from seeking economic justice for victims of domestic violence to advocating for nonprofit and corporate board diversity initiatives.
Outside of work, Parth enjoys attending concerts, watching standup comedy, and playing sports. He is based in Fort Worth, Texas and will proudly proclaim his Texas roots to anyone who will listen. Parth has devoted time on campus serving on the boards of the Columbia Business and Law Association, Columbia Law Legal Tech, and the South Asian Law Students Association. He has served as president of both the Columbia Law Texas Society and the Columbia Law and Entrepreneurship Society. Lastly, he has worked as a Staff Member of the Columbia Business Law Review, a journal in which he also published an academic note focused on cryptocurrency ratings. These extracurricular opportunities have furthered his unwavering commitment to mentorship, a commitment he has already seen embraced by the Microenterprise Project team.
Parth is excited to work with VOLS through the Pro Bono Scholars Program, a partnership in New York among the Judiciary, law schools, and legal profession with the goal of preparing students for the practice of law while instilling in them a commitment to public service. Pro Bono Scholars spend their last semester of law school working full time in a pro bono placement while completing an academic component. During his Pro Bono Scholars placement at VOLS, Parth is looking forward to working with the Microenterprise Project team on projects focused on Commercial Lease Assistance, the American Rescue Plan, and advocacy efforts.
Welcome, Parth!