Public Interest Law at Lewis and Clark Law School

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Funding Public Interest Work

Student Positions

Although many public interest employers welcome law student involvement, many cannot afford to pay for a law clerk and will expect you to “bring your own funding”. There are several funding options to explore, including:

• Work Study Funding - federal Work Study provides partial “matching” funds for eligible government and non-profit legal employers, enabling them to employ paid law clerks. Student hourly wages typically average $10-12/hour. To receive Work Study funding, students must financially qualify. Read Chapter 8 in the Career Services Handbook, and take a look at the Work Study Handout for more information

• PILP Stipends - Each spring, PILP hosts an annual auction to raise funds and award 10-15 summer stipends. These stipends fund students to work in public interest organizations that would otherwise be unable to pay for a law clerk. The deadline to apply for a PILP stipend is usually in late February or early March. For more information, see the PILP website.

• Equal Justice Works Summer Corps - Equal Justice Works awards several $1,000 education awards for students working in the public interest, in a paid or unpaid position. A Summer Corps award can be in addition to other sources of funding.

• PSLawNet - A national clearinghouse listing public interest organizations and potential national funding resources.

• Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) - Provides summer funding for law students working in public interest agencies in Chicago.

• Peggy Browning Fund - Provides summer funding for students interested in working on workers’ rights issues. (Lewis & Clark is a member school).

• Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide, Vol. 1 - USA - A Harvard Law School publication listing public interest employers and potential funding sources. (Available for check out from the Career Services Resource Library.)

Although many of the listed stipends and fellowships are not awarded until late spring, they may have late fall or early spring deadlines. Check resources early (and often) to make sure you do not miss a good opportunity!

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For Additional information on Fellowships, review the Post Graduate Public Interest Fellowship Manual, and set an appointment to meet with Bill Penn, the Public Interest Law Coordinator, by writing to wcpenn@lclark.edu