Public Interest/Public Sector Day

FOR PILP MEMBERS

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Pro Bono Project

Public Interest Law Certificate

Summer Fellowships

FOR ALL LAW STUDENTS

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Summer Fellowships

The Public Interest Law Program (PILP) is pleased to announce its 8th Annual PILP Summer Fellowships. PILP fellowships are only open to PILP members at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. You can learn more about PILP at www.pic.org or in Career Services.

Purpose

The fellowships provide students an opportunity to practice public interest law and assist public interest organizations in obtaining high-quality summer interns. This is in keeping with PIC's mission to serve as a support center for legal services programs and law students committed to the practice of public interest law. Two PILP fellowships will be offered in 2008 as a result of the generous support of the Myrtle L. Atkinson Foundation.

Stipend & Responsibilities

PILP awards $2,500 to each fellow for ten weeks of substantive legal work with a sponsoring organization of the fellow's choice, subject to PILP’s approval. PILP will submit a request to the sponsoring organization to contribute at least $500, and the host organization is encouraged to contribute more than $500. The $500 contribution is not required, and PILP will only award $2,500 to students regardless of the employer contribution. Students may obtain other funding, such as work study, as long as the total amount earned does not exceed $5,000.

At the conclusion of the internship, and no later than October 1, 2008, the fellow must submit a detailed report that includes:

• The name, address, and telephone number of the organization for which they worked and their supervisor's name and title;
• A brief description of the public interest work done by the organization;
• A description of the specific duties the student performed, with particular emphasis on the work the student produced;
• An overall evaluation of the fieldwork experience, with emphasis on whether it advanced their knowledge of and/or interest in the type of work they did in particular or in public interest work in general;
• Suggestions on how to improve the experience; and
• A discussion of any ethical issues that they encountered during the internship.
These reports will be made available to future applicants. Fellows may also be asked to write a brief article for the Legal Service Bulletin, a statewide newsletter for legal aid and public interest organizations.

Qualifications

Applicants must be first-year or second-year law students enrolled in PILP as of Monday, February 25, 2008.

Participation in the Pro Bono Project or other volunteer work, while not required, is desired.

How to Apply

Application materials must be received no later than Monday, February 25, 2008. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed. Students may drop off applications in Career Services by 2:00PM on February 25, 2008. Applications may also be mailed directly to PIC and must be received by February 25.

The selection will be based on a student's resume, demonstrated commitment to public service, professional promise, and an essay of up to three pages, double-spaced (see below for the description). Students do not need to have a job before applying. This allows recipients to know they have funding before having to commit to a certain organization - and will allow the fellowship to serve as an added incentive for employers to hire the students. Recipients must speak with the PILP Director before April 15 to discuss their summer plans, and to ensure that their anticipated summer work comports with the fellowship stipulations.

Application

Application materials include:

• A complete Public Interest Law Program Summer Fellowship Application Form;
• A resume; and

A Personal Statement of up to three pages (typed, double-spaced, with 1" margins). Please attach a Personal Statement of up to three pages (typed, double spaced, with 1" margins). The Personal Statement should address: 1) why you want to do public interest work; 2) three areas/projects you would like to pursue as summer employment options and why you would like to pursue them (please make sure to include what steps you have taken to secure a summer job); and 3) what you hope to gain from the experience both short-term and long-term. If applicable, please discuss any disadvantages that you have overcome.

Once selected to receive a fellowship, students will have until April 15 to secure a position. The position must be with:

• A 501(c)(3) organization;
• A non-governmental organization that provides legal services to indigent, disabled, elderly or other under-represented clients or interests; or
• A government agency that provides legal services to indigent, disabled, elderly or other under-represented clients or interests.

The organization must perform substantive legal work (direct services, impact litigation, policy work, etc.). Judicial clerkships are not eligible. Recipients must receive approval by the PILP Director of their summer internship, including the host organization and the nature of the work the Fellow will be conducting, by April 15.

The organization must agree to: 1) hire the applicant as a Public Interest Law Program Fellow for ten weeks between May and August 2008; and 2) supervise the fellow's work on a substantive legal advocacy project.

Who Decides?

A panel composed of PILP graduates, Public Interest Clearinghouse staff and previous fellowship recipients will evaluate the applications and award both fellowships.

Disbursements

The Public Interest Clearinghouse will pay fellows on or before June 2, 2008. Organizations are expected to pay fellows on or before July 15, 2008.