Summer Funding for Public Interest Work
Summer Work-Study & Summer Stipend Programs
Boston College Law School offers a variety of funding programs for law students who wish to work in the public interest and/or the public sector during the summer. They include:
Summer College Work-Study
Publication Trust Fund Stipends
Holocaust/Human Rights Program Stipends
Public Interest Law Foundation and Bingham Fellows Summer Stipends
These programs provide over 200 students with funding for public service work each summer. The eligibility, timing and application procedures vary for each of these programs. However, all of these programs are intended to promote and provide the funding for working for government agencies, public interest and non-profit organizations. Each program is described in more detail below.
Summer Federal Work-Study Program
Amount of Award: $9.25 per hour, maximum award $3,500 for summer. Award period: May 19-August 24.
Eligibility: 1L or 2L student. Based on financial need.
Application Deadline: January, 2004
Notification of Award: Mid-February
Application Procedure: Submit the BC Law Financial Aid Application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline.
Obligations of Award: Work for an eligible non-profit agency. Agency must contract with Boston College and agree to pay 25% of the wages earned and FICA (a total of 32.65%).
Administered by: Financial Aid Office
Contact Information: Please call x24243
The Summer Federal Work-Study Program offers federal work-study grants to approximately 180 Boston College Law School students for summer work for eligible government agencies, public interest organizations and nonprofit organizations throughout the country. This funding is in addition to work-study grants available during the academic year. Awards are made through the Financial Aid Office. The federal government pays approximately 60% of the salary of work-study recipients, the remaining 40% is paid for by a contribution from an employer. Work-study awards are based on financial need and are administered by the Financial Aid Office. Students may apply by completing the Free Application for Students Aid (FAFSA) and the BC Law Financial Aid Application by the required deadline. The deadline for applying will be in January. Awards are usually made by mid-February. It is not necessary to have a job at the time of application. The applications are distributed to student mailboxes during the winter break.
The Work-Study Program is available to fund summer positions working for government agencies, public interest organizations and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. Other employers, including some public interest firms, may also be eligible. There are also many work-study opportunities at the Law School, including Research Assistants for professors, and internships at the BC Law Legal Assistance Bureau. A list of agencies that have contracted with Boston College in the past is available in the Financial Aid Office. Other qualified agencies may also participate in this program by completing a contract agreement with the Financial Aid Office. A list of on-campus positions at the Law School can be found in The Counselor.
Public Interest Law Foundation Summer Stipend Program
Eligibility: 1L/2L, applied for summer work-study grant to work for government, public interest or nonprofit organizations.
Notification of Award: December/April
Application Procedure: Complete an application for summer work-study grant and submit to Admissions Office by January (TBD), 2004. Complete a Summer Funding Common Application Cover Sheet and Application and submit with a resume to the Career Services Office by deadline above.
Obligations of Award: Fill out an evaluation form at the end of the year and participate in panel discussion.
Administered by: Public Interest Law Foundation
Contact Person: To be determined - Public Interest Law Foundation, Summer Stipend Committee, or Freda Fishman, Associate Director for Public Interest Programs, Career Services, x24345
The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) is a student organization committed to increasing awareness of public interest legal opportunities and supporting students who are interested in this work. The Summer Stipend Program provides students with financial assistance to pursue public interest work during the summer. All law students who are interested in public interest legal work are eligible to apply for a PILF grant. PILF construes the definition of public interest legal work as broadly as possible in order to give applicants the opportunity to demonstrate how their employers and their particular position will benefit the public interest. PILF has funded positions with government agencies, non-profit organizations, state and federal prosecutors, public defender offices and private law firms with a public interest practice.
There are two times during the academic year when students can apply for PILF stipends in the Fall and in the Spring. The Fall application is intended for second-year students who have an early commitment for a public sector position and need to know at an early date whether funding is available.
The second opportunity to apply for a PILF stipend is in the Spring. For this application, applicants do not need to have a firm offer for a summer position but must have scheduled an interview. When applying for a PILF stipend, students may submit applications for more than one summer positions. Applicants will be notified in April.
Funding for PILF summer stipends comes from a variety of sources: PILF fundraising, The Law School, and outside funding sources. Some of these sources have geographical or practice area restrictions. For example, PILF generally receives some funding from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation. These funds are limited to students accepting law positions within Massachusetts. Please check the application supplement for current information on funding sources and restrictions.
Applications will be evaluated by a committee appointed by the Public Interest Law Foundation based on two criteria: 1) the applicants demonstrated commitment to public interest work and 2) the extent to which the applicants work will benefit the public interest.
Bingham McCutchen Fellowship for Public Service: Through the PILF Summer Stipend Program, several students will be named Bingham McCutchen Fellows. Their summer stipends will be paid from a fund established at the Law School by Bingham McCutchen LLP in honor of John Cu rtin, to support public interest careers. Preference will be given to students working in civil rights, human rights, juvenile rights & enforcement. As part of this program, Fellows will be invited to participate in a special mentor program with Bingham McCutchen attorneys.
To apply first year students must apply for summer work-study funding in January and submit a Summer Funding Common Application Cover Sheet and Application to Career Services Office in March. A PILF grant may be used in conjunction with a work-study award.
The Publication Trust Summer Placement Program
Amount of Award: $9.25 per hour, 35 hours per week. Maximum award $3,500.
Eligibility: 1L/2L preference given to work study eligible students. Applicant must have received an offer from a public interest/public sector employer for volunteer employment.
Notification of Award: Late April
Application Procedure: Obtain a work-study grant. Secure a written job offer for a legal position with a public sector/public interest employer for a full-time (minimum 35 hours per week) summer position. Complete the Summer Funding Common Application Cover Sheet and questions #1 and #2 of the Common Application and submit to the Career Services Office by the deadline.
Obligations of Award: Commit to working for one of Boston College Law Schools Law Reviews for 35 hours during the summer. The first 15 hours must be worked between May 20 and 24 at the Law School and will include attending mandatory Law Review training sessions. During this week, participants will receive assignments for the remaining 20 hours of required Law Review work. Assignments will vary depending on the needs of the Law Reviews. The remaining 20 hours may be completed anytime during the summer, but must be completed in August.. Some assignments may be completed off-site, others may require returning to the Law School.
Administered by: Career Services Office and Law Review Office
Contact Person: Freda Fishman x24345 and Rosalind Kaplan x24352
The Publication Trust Summer Program offers 14 first- and second-year law students an opportunity to work in a public interest/public sector legal position and to perform assignments for Boston College Law Schools Law Reviews. These positions are funded through the publication trust, an endowment maintained by Boston College Law School for the benefit of the Law Reviews and through the work-study program.
To be eligible to participate in this program, students must have completed their first year of law school, been approved for a summer work-study award and received an offer from a public interest/public sector employer for volunteer legal employment. For the purposes of this program public interest/public sector employers are defined broadly to include public interest organizations, government agencies and the courts. The position must be full-time (a minimum of 35 hours per week). The maximum award is $3500.
In addition to the full-time public interest/public sector position, students must commit to working for the Law Reviews for 35 hours. The first 15 hours will consist of mandatory orientation and training sessions by the Law Reviews. These sessions will be held at the Law School during the month of May. During this week students will also receive their assignments for an additional 20 hours of work for the Law Reviews. This work will vary, but may include researching topics for future Law Review articles, proofreading pending articles, cite checking, etc. These assignments may be completed anytime during the summer, as long as they are completed in August. Some assignments may be completed off-site, others may require students to return to the Law School.
To apply, students must submit:
A Summer Funding Common Application Cover Sheet and Application (questions #1 and #2),
A resume
A copy of work-study award letter and
A letter from employer offering summer employment. Participants will be selected by lottery and notified by late April.
Owen M. Kupferschmid Holocaust/Human Rights Summer Funding Project
Amount of Award: Varies. Intended to cover out-of-pocket travel and living expenses. May be combined with work-study or PILF awards.
Eligibility: 1L and 2L students. Preference for internship focusing on international human rights issues and working in foreign countries. Must have received an offer from employer.
Notification of Award: Mid-April
Application Procedure: Submit a Summer Funding Common Application and an employer commitment letter, along with a resume to Career Services by deadline. H/HRP funding is designated for work done abroad with an international scope.
Obligations of Award: Work a minimum of 10 weeks. Notify the school of your arrival and progress in summer placement. Submit a written report during the Fall, speak at a student panel regarding your summer experience. Collect information about your organization and other local groups to share with the law school.
Administered by: Holocaust Human Rights Project (H/HRP)
Contact Person: To be Determined, Coordinator, H/HRP Summer Funding Program or Freda Fishman, Associate Director for Public Interest Programs, Career Services, x24345.
The Owen M. Kupferschmid Holocaust/Human Rights Summer Funding Project was established to fund students in internships that focus on international and human rights issues. Preference is given to internships in foreign countries. H/HRP is particularly interested in the development of law creating legal accountability for individuals responsible for state-sponsored or state-supported crimes or abuses, including mass murder and persecution, and human rights violations which states are unwilling or unable to prevent. However, anyone with an offer of a position in the human rights/international public interest field is encouraged to apply. The Project will fund first- or second-year students for a minimum of ten weeks. The funding amount will vary according to the needs of the students, but is intended to cover the out-of-pocket travel and living expenses. It may be combined with work study or PILF funding, and applicants are required to seek that additional funding. Students are encouraged to contact international organizations in January and to consult with the coordinator of the H/HRP Summer Funding Program for a list of possible sponsoring organizations.
To apply for the Holocaust/Human Rights Internship students must first secure a position with a human rights organization. They should then submit 1) Summer Funding Common Application Form, 2) a copy of the position-offer letter from the agency and 3) information on the agency. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee appointed by the Dean. Selections will be made and students notified in late April.
The Holocaust/Human Rights Interns will be required to submit an evaluation and reflection of their summer placements to be used by future intern applicants. They will also be asked to speak on at least one panel or other forum about their experiences.
Scholarships and Loan Assistance
The Law School awards more than $3 million in tuition remission and more than $300,000 in work study annually. In addition, thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends of the Law School, the Law School offers the following scholarships and loan repayment assistance to current students. Many of these programs are intended to assist those students and graduates pursuing a career in the public interest.
First and Second-Year Students
James A. and Lois Champy Fellowship Program. Thanks to the generous contribution of Lois and James Champy (BC Law 68) the Champy Fellowship Program provides financial support to an outstanding second-year student who has demonstrated the intention and ability to work in the public interest and who is in need of financial assistance. Any second-year student pursuing a public interest career is eligible. Preference will be given to students providing direct legal services to the disadvantaged and/or working in civil or human rights. The Champy Fellow receives a $11,000 scholarship in two disbursements during the third year of law school, which is to be used to pay educational expenses. Applications are available in the Career Services Office (East Wing 210 ). The application deadline is in April.
Alumni Scholarship Tuition Grant. The Alumni Council of Boston College Law Schools Alumni Association and the Dean award ten $1,000 grants each year to students in their first and second year. Students are selected on the basis of financial need and service to the Law School and/or to the community. All first- and second-year students are eligible to apply. Applications are available in the Career Services Office (East Wing 210).
Third-Year Students
The Drinan Family Fund in Support of Public Interest Law. Anonymous donors created the Drinan Family Fund in Support of Public Interest Law to encourage Boston College Law School students to pursue public interest careers. The fund awards $10,000 to a graduating student who will pursue a public sector career. The award is to be applied solely to indebtedness incurred for legal education and may be renewed for one year if the recipient remains in public interest employment and fulfills the other conditions of the award. Any third year student who is pursuing a public sector career is eligible. Preference will be given to candidates whose employment is in one of the following areas: child advocacy, landlord/tenant issues, criminal defense or criminal prosecution. Consideration will also be given to the level of indebtedness of the students. Applications are available in the Career Services Office (East Wing 210).
Edward T. Bigham, III, Scholarship. The Edward T. Bigham, III, Scholarship was established in memory of Edward T. Bigham, III, (BC 75, BC Law 78), who served as an Assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County in Massachusetts. The scholarship is a $4,000 award to an outstanding third-year student who intends to pursue a career as a district attorney. Applications are available in the Career Services Office (East Wing 210).
The David H. and Mary Murphy Posner Law Scholarship; The Roberts S. Pitcoff Memorial Scholarship; The Keefe Family Scholarship
These three $4,500 scholarships are for current third-year students who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the public sector.
William F. Willier Graduation Awards. The William F. Willier Graduation Stipend is available to new BC Law graduates who have secured employment in public service careers. Funding for the program is provided by income from the Boston College Publication Trust together with giving from alumni and friends of the law school. These awards are intended to defray the cost of summer expenses, including bar examination costs. In the past the awards have ranged from $500 to $2,000.
All third-year students who have secured a law-related position for a public sector employer by the application date are eligible to apply. Preference is given to those working for organizations that provide direct legal services to underrepresented groups and to those in need of financial assistance. Applications are available in the Law School Admissions Office (Stuart, M302).
Graduates
William F. Willier Loan Repayment Assistance Program. The William F. Willier Loan Repayment Assistance Program is named after a former Professor at the Law School who was instrumental in establishing the Boston College Publication Trust. Income from this Trust together with giving from alumni and friends of the Law School provide funding to graduates in law-related public interest careers by assisting in the repayment of their educational debt. The awards are renewable annually. To be eligible for a Willier Award, first time applicants must have graduated from the Law School within the past five years and be employed on a full-time basis in a public interest job. Preference is given to those who work for organizations that provide direct legal services to members of traditionally underrepresented groups. Applications are available in the Law School Admissions Office (Stuart, M302). The application deadline is in December following graduation.
National Funding Sources for Public Interest Summer Work
Several national funding sources are currently available to law students doing summer public interest work. The criteria for the awards as well as the amount of funding vary according to the individual funding source. Some funders are issue oriented, such as the Curtin Fellowship which focuses on homelessness. Other funds apply to more general public interest work, such as the National Lawyers Guild Summer Legal Internship. Some are limited geographically, such as the Massachusetts Bar Foundation that funds law students to work in Massachusetts. Additional information about many of these funding sources, as well as application materials, are available in the Career Services Office.
Examples of the more popular funding sources include:
ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty
John Curtin Legal Internship
Awards to work in organizations serving homeless clients.
Deadline:
Contact: (202) 662-1694
Equal Justice America
Stipend of $3,250 for law students who work during the summer for organizations providing direct civil legal services for the poor.
Deadline:
Contact: Dan Rubin, (804) 744-4200 www.equaljusticeamerica.org
Everett Public Service Internship
Stipend for a group of non-profit public service agencies primarily in NYC and Washington, DC. Interns apply directly to participating agencies, about $200/week.
Deadline: Determined by each agency.
Contact: erica@coopamerica.org www.everettinternships.org
Federal Communications Bar Associations Foundation
Robert E. Lee Internship
The Foundation awards at least three stipends to law students employed as unpaid summer interns in communications positions with government offices.
Deadline: Mid-March
Contact: (202) 293-4000, www.fcba.org
Massachusetts Bar FoundationThe Legal Internship Program
Four stipends are given to law students working with non-profit organizations in Massachusetts which provide direct civil legal services to the poor.
Deadline:
Contact: Elizabeth Lynch, (617) 338-0534 www.massbar.org
J.P. Morgan Summer Internship Program New York City
Interns work at selected non-profit agencies in New York City. Students may only apply for one position.
NSLC Summer Corps
Earn an education award if students provide direct legal services to low-income individuals and communities.
Deadline: Applications reviewed as received until program is full.
Contact: Jennifer Tschirch (BC Law Alum) at Equal Justice Works, (202) 466-3686, www.napil.org
National Lawyers Guild Summer Project: The Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowships for Social and Economic Justice
Stipends are awarded to students to work with selected public interest groups. For example, participating agencies include ACORN in LA, El Centro para Accion Legal en Derechos Humanos, Guatemala and the National Whistleblower Center in DC.
Contact: (212) 627-2656, www.nlg.org
New Jersey Summer Legal Internship Program Students are placed in various legal services programs, public interest organizations and government agencies in New Jersey. Approximately 20 job placements are given to first and second year students.
Contact: Patti Koncius, (732) 572-9100, www.lsnj.org
Pride Law Fund Summer Fellowship Program
Awards to support work in areas of sexual orientation discrimination and other issues of concern to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Fellowships can be used to supplement other summer funds as long as total does not exceed $5,000. Consists of the Achtenberg, Block and Morgans Womens Fellowships. Open to law students at any law school working at a 501(c)(3) organization anywhere in the country.
Contact: (415) 956-5764, www.balif.org
Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)
PILI funds summer internships at 22 nonprofit agencies in the Chicago area.
Deadline: Rolling admissions starting in October.
Contact: (312) 362-6959, www.pili-law.org
Patrick Stewart Human Rights Scholarship (formerly IN grant from Amnesty International)
This grant is designed to give students the opportunity to gain practical experience in the field of human rights. Students can design a project on their own or find an internship with other organizations. Approximately 20 grants are available.
Deadline: Early March
Contact: www.amnestyusa.org
WLALA Foundation
The grant is given to law students for projects that make government and social institutions and agencies more accessible to those whose interest are not otherwise recognized.
A strong preference is given to projects that benefit residents of Southern California.
Contact: (323) 653-3325, www.wlala.org
For additional funding listings, see Harvard Law Schools Public Interest Job Search Guide, 2000-2001 in the Career Services Resource Library.
