Many summer public interest internships are unpaid. Fortunately, there are a number of programs that offer law students a stipend to fund their summer work. Most programs require students to secure a job on their own and then apply for funding. Additionally, there are a few programs that provide a nominal stipend for students to intern in designated public interest agencies throughout the U.S.
Keep in mind, however, that funding programs are competitive. If you are unable to secure funding through a formal program, we suggest you think creatively. Many students have successfully found funding through consultation with their employers. They may be aware of funding that previous interns received or of less well-known programs available in their geographic location or practice area. Students can also contact the appropriate state or city bar association to determine whether there are any local programs that provide funding to law students with a public interest internship in that community. Many bar associations have discretionary pots of money that may be earmarked to support interns at local public interest agencies.
In addition, keep in mind that there are some paid opportunities for summer public interest and government work. OPICS and the Office of Career Services regularly receive job announcements for positions that pay students an hourly wage or stipend for the summer. Check the Symplicity job listing site for announcements of paid positions and be sure to look at the other resources in both OPICS and OCS that advertise summer positions.
- Work for domestic or international public interest or government employer
- $3,250 stipend guaranteed for all GULC 1L (1E) and 2L (2E/3E) JD students
- Two part application:
1: Initial application - February 29, 2008: Binding deadline but offer of employment not required
2: Final application - April 11, 2008: Confirmed offer of employment required
- 7 weeks at the Archdiocesan Legal Network, 3 weeks at Foley & Lardner’s office (1L only)
- $5,500 stipend
- Application deadline - February 22, 2008
- Provide direct legal representation in or near selected cities (1L only)
- $4,000 stipend
- Application deadline - March 12, 2008
ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty/John J. Curtin, Jr. Legal Internship
- Work for a nonprofit organization that provides legal aid to homeless and indigent people.
- $2,500 stipend
- Application deadline – March 24, 2008
Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program, American Society for International Law
- Pursue field work or research on issue involving international law and human rights
- $1,000 micro-grant
- Application deadline – February 15, 2008
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, AABA Law Foundation
- Work on a projects that provides free legal services to the Asian American community of San Francisco
- Amount of stipend not yet announced
- Application deadline – TBA: Last year’s deadline was mid-June.
Bergstrom Child Welfare Law Summer Fellowship
- Supports law students working for a nationwide child advocacy/child welfare organization.
- $500 stipend to attend intensive child welfare law training at the University of Michigan; limited additional stipend for selected interns. Amount of stipend not yet announced
- Application deadline – February 1, 2008
Equal Justice America Legal Service Fellowships
- Work for a non-profit organization which providing direct legal representation
- Up to $4,000 stipend
- Application deadline – TBA: last year’s deadline was mid-March
Equal Justice Works (EJW) Summer Corps Grant
- Students working for a non-profit organization are eligible to apply
- $1,000 education award voucher
- Application deadline – Apply online beginning March 19 at 12:00 noon through April 2 at 5:00 pm.
Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia
- Offers two stipends for a DC area law student to Work for a non-profit legal services organization in DC
- $5000 stipend
- Application deadline – TBA: Last year’s deadline was April
Howrey Helps (1L only)
- Two stipends for DC area law students to work for a DC based public interest agency
- One stipend for a DC area law student to work at the Archdiocesan Legal Network in DC
- $5,000 stipend
- Application deadline - March 21, 2008
Massachusetts Bar Foundation
- Work for a non-profit legal services organization in Massachusetts
- $6,000 stipend
- Application deadline – March 14, 2008
North American South Asisan Law Students Assocation/North American South Asian Bar Association
- Offers public interest summer fellowship to law students working in public interest organizations serving the needs of the South Asian American Community
- Application deadline - April 1, 2008
Pennsylvania Legal Services Martin Luther King Internship Program
- Work at a public interest legal service organization in Pennsylvania
- 10 stipends available. Amount not yet announced for 2008.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Pride Law Fund Summer Fellowship
- Several fellowships awarded to work in different areas of LGBT rights
- $300-$2,500 stipend
- Application deadline – April 1, 2008
Robert Masur Fellowship in Civil Liberties, The Nation Institute
- Work in the area of civil liberties or civil rights (1L only)
- $1,000 stipend
- Application deadline TBA - Last year’s deadline was late May
Williams Institute Summer Fellowships, including the Gleason/Kettel Law Fellowships
- Work in the area of sexual orientation law and public policy
- $5,000 stipend
- Application deadline - March 24, 2008
AFL-CIO Law Student Union Summer
- Labor law internships with affiliated unions
- $450/week stipend plus transportation and housing expenses
- Application deadline – January 28, 2008 for 1Ls
Everett Public Service Internship Program
- Work for a participating non-profit organization (most are based in NY or DC)
- $230/week stipend
- Application deadlines vary
Frankel Fellowships, Human Rights First
- Work in either the New York City or D.C. Human Rights First office
- $1,000 stipend
- Application deadline – March 2, 2008
Google Policy Fellowship
- Policy internships for law students interested in internet and technology policy
- Participating organizations are based in either Washington DC or San Francisco, CA
- $7000 stipend
- Application deadline - January 1, 2008
Haywood Burns Fellowship for Social and Economic Justice, National Lawyer’s Guild
- Work for a pre-selected public interest organization
- $2,000 stipend
- Application deadline – January 15, 2008
Janet Steiger Fellowship Program
- Work in the consumer protection departments of selected State Attorneys General offices
- $5,000 stipend
- Application deadline – February 11, 2008
Legal Aid Association of California Dan Bradley Summer Fellowship Program
- Work at an LAAC-affiliated legal services program in California
- $3,000 stipend from LAAC, host organization provdes $500
- Application deadline – April 4, 2008
McCleary Law Fellows Program, Human Rights Campaign
- Work at the Human Rights Campaign office in D.C.
- Stipend not yet announced
- Application deadline – March 4, 2008
New Jersey Public Interest Legal Intern Fellowship Program
- Work at a public interest legal service organization in New Jersey
- $500/week stipend
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Peggy Browning Fund Summer Internship
- Work for a labor-related organization
- $4,000 stipend
- Application deadline – January 15, 2008
Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) of Chicago Summer Internship Program
- Work for one of 25+ public interest legal service organizations in Chicago
- $5,000 stipend
- Application deadline – Applications are accepted on a rolling basis though March. Many programs complete their hiring early in the cycle, so it is recommended that candidates apply as early as possible.
