Public Service Support and Outcomes
The University of Chicago Law School supports students on a public service path with individual career counseling, informational and networking events, guaranteed summer funding, a faculty public service mentor program, our great network of alumni working in public service, and more—but our support does not stop at graduation. Our alumni take advantage of fellowship opportunities and loan repayment assistance as they build public service careers at organizations across the world.
Public Interest Leadership Program
The University of Chicago Law School has established a Public Interest Leadership Program to assist students pursuing public interest and public service careers, to recognize and celebrate their commitment, and to nurture a community of support among them. The Law School is committed to providing students with the resources and educational opportunities they need to be successful in a vast array of careers that support individuals and communities and use the law to enhance the functioning of our democratic society including, but not limited to, legal representation of underrepresented individuals or causes through direct service work, impact litigation and policy advocacy; criminal defense and prosecution; and other forms of government service including federal and state legislative or executive branch work.
Program participation will be offered to students who demonstrate a serious commitment to the pursuit of public interest or public service careers. The application process will open for students in the second half of their 1L year.
Postgraduate Public Service Law Fellowships
The University of Chicago Law School Postgraduate Public Service Law Fellowships are awarded to a limited number of competitively chosen graduating JD students who develop public service fellowship projects with public sector host organizations. Thanks to the generosity of alumni funders, each Fellow is awarded $60,000 to work full-time for one year following graduation at an eligible public service host organization on public service legal issues such as welfare rights, affordable housing, domestic violence, immigration, workers rights, special education, environmental protection and juvenile justice.
Over sixty graduates have completed public service law fellowships at agencies across the nation and abroad and 96% of those fellows have remained in public service. View the list of past and current Fellows and their host agencies.
Loan Repayment Assistance
The University of Chicago Law School Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is intended to alleviate the debt burden of our graduates who work in public service. The most inclusive program of its kind, our LRAP includes a straightforward application and a generous $80,000 salary cap. In addition, all graduates who serve as judicial clerks are eligible for the program. The LRAP works in concert with current federal debt relief programs to offer the opportunity for any graduate staying in public service for ten years to attend law school for free.
Pro Bono Service Initiative
The Pro Bono Service Initiative encourages our law students to complete at least 50 hours of pro bono service before they graduate. Participants in the voluntary Pro Bono Service Initiative contribute to their legal education by gaining exposure to important legal issues, invaluable experiences, and a hands on opportunity to influence how law affects real people. Students who fulfill their pledge and log their hours will receive a Dean's Certificate of Recognition, receive special recognition at graduation and receive a special notation on their transcript indicating that they completed the Pro Bono Service Initiative. The graduating student completing and recording the most hours will also receive a special Award of Excellence.
Employers
Students with a passion for public service have many choices after graduation. Some become professors. Others become clerks. Still others go directly to work at a public service organization.
Public service organizations who employ our graduates include but are not limited to organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Brennan Center, Bronx and Brooklyn Defenders, the Children's Law Center, legal aid agencies around the country such as Legal Services NYC, Bay Area Legal Aid, and Legal Aid Chicago, EarthJustice, the Environmental Law Institute, the Heritage Foundation, Lambda Legal, the Liberty Justice Center, as well as many government agencies at both the federal and state level, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Attorney's Offices (AUSAs), as well as Attorney General's Offices, various city Law Departments, District Attorney's Offices, and Public Defender's Offices across the country.