Check out a range of funding resources available at the law school for prospective, current, and former students who are interested in a career in public interest.
For prospective students
Scholars for Justice award
- Awarded to two incoming students each year who display proven dedication to public interest.
- Allows students to earn law degrees without incurring debt that could be a barrier to a public interest career.
- Recipients commit to pursuing public interest careers or to donate to the law school's scholarship fund an amount at least equal to the scholarship.
- ATJI supports these scholars by facilitating mentorship, networking opportunities, and leadership development programming.
For current students
- Public Interest Law Foundation Summer Grants: Help law students pursue summer public interest internships that offer little or no pay.
- Public Interest Advising: With our deep knowledge of public interest law, ATJI staff can help you learn more by connecting you to alumni and other attorneys practicing in the field. Contact ATJI to make an appointment.
- Center for Professional Development can also help with the job search process, explore career options, and give you the tools and skills to land jobs or internships.
- PSJD.org: The Public Service Job Directory Resource Center has tips on finding summer and post-graduate funding resources as well as extensive lists of available funding sources.
For graduating students and alumni
- Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP): Assists graduates who choose full-time public interest legal careers and are licensed attorneys. For more information, contact Student Financial Services; the office also has information about federal income-based repayment and public service loan forgiveness programs.
- Incubator and Solo Initiative: Helps alumni launch their own solo practices or small firms, especially those who plan to serve the moderate means client community.
- Ask Heather Jarvis: Resources and advice from a national student loan expert.
- Equal Justice Works: National organization providing post-graduate public interest job opportunities as well as debt relief information.
- PSJD.org: Information on financing a public interest/public sector career, suggestions for non-fellowship funding sources, and database of jobs and fellowships.
- Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Student Debt: Free e-book from Equal Justice Works for lawyers and law students on managing student debt.
