Public Interest Law Fellowship

The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program (PILF) offers a comprehensive, integrated program which is designed to train students for careers in public service. This program provides specialized counseling, frequent exposure to public interest lawyers and policy makers and numerous opportunities for "hands on" experience in public interest law internships.

There are approximately 20 Fellowships awarded each year in a highly competitive application process. The Fellowship includes a 50% scholarship for BOTH tuition and fees in exchange for a commitment to practice public interest law for four years upon graduation and the participation in various public service programs while enrolled at the law school.

Internship/Externship Opportunities

Through UMass Law's extensive network of public interest law placements, PILF students have numerous opportunities to get "real life experience" in a field that is of interest them. We offer a wide variety of programs through which students may get placed in an internship or externship which will expand their knowledge and provide them with invaluable experience.

These programs include:

field placement programs
clinics
public interest summer stipends
traditional internship opportunities

UMass Law students have been placed in public interest placements including, but not limited to, the following:

Judicial Clerkships
District Attorneys' offices
Public Defenders' offices
Legal Services Agencies
State Agencies' legal departments
City Solicitors' offices
State Legislative offices
Congressional offices

First Thursday of the Month - Public Interest Law Panel Discussion

On the first Thursday of every month during the school year, a Public Interest Law panel discussion is held at the law school in the Moot Court Room. Each panel covers a specific area of public interest law to expose the law school community to the various fields that exist. Additionally, Public Interest Panels are a great opportunity to meet and network with experienced public interest law practitioners.

The PILF program also hosts or co-hosts additional events that bring high profile speakers in the area of law and public policy to the UMass Law campus.