NIU students and local residents are invited to a public auction that will provide NIU law students with stipends for their summer interests jobs.

The Public Interest Law Society will hold its eighth-annual public auction Friday.

"We have been working on this event all year, I remember starting on this in early fall," said PILS President Rachel Mcintyre. "I know from being at the auction last year that this is going to be a good time."

Last year's auction provided stipends for eight students who worked for several organizations such as the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian, Journey of Hope and DuPage County Public Defender's Office. Each year, the society receives donations from alumni, local businesses and anyone else willing to donate.

"This year, there are very gracious donations from city business," Mcintyre said. "But, our hottest items so far are cruises on Lake Michigan, one of them valued at $3,000, and a hot air balloon ride for two."

The auction will be held in the Thurgood Marshall Gallery, located on the upper level of Swen Parson Hall. The doors to the event open at 5 p.m. The second table will open 30 minutes later. Once every table is closed, the hot items are placed together for a live auction at the end of the night.

"The live auction is so much fun," said Greg Anderson, director of career opportunities and development. "It brings together alumni, lawyers, judges and law students. It gives everyone a chance to mingle."

The auction is just one of the events the College of Law is having that day.

"The auction is held on the perfect day," Anderson said. "We are also having our Riley lecture and there will also be a board of visitors meeting. So, the auction is just a good end to an overall exciting day."

The Riley lecture is a lecture on professionalism that will be given by Thomas L. Kilbride, Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. This will be the College of Law's 10th-annual Riley lecture.

The lecture begins at 2 p.m. in the Riley Courtroom, located on the lower level of Swen Parson Hall. There will be a reception immediately following the lecture in the Thurgood Marshall Gallery.

"It is always an honor to have a speaker for the Riley lecture," Anderson said. "This year will be no exception with having Justice Kilbride here."

The board of visitors is a group of people from the community, as well as judges and lawyers who provide a connection between the college and the legal community of Illinois.

"The auction is a wonderful way for students to see the faculty outside of the classroom structure," said LeRoy Pernell, dean and professor of the College of Law. "This is an important event for students to support. The auction is the highlight of the year, and it can begin relationships for students that will benefit them through their entire lives. It is so beneficial for the students and for the community to interact with the board of visitors, the staff and each other in such an informal and comfortable way."

The auction is open to all students and to the general public. For information, call (815) 753-0589.