Public Interest Law Department

Loyola Law School has a strong tradition of supporting students’ interest in exploring career opportunities in public interest law. In October 1992 the law school faculty instituted a pro bono graduation requirement with the purpose of exposing students to their professional and ethical obligation to perform public service work.  The Law school encourages students to volunteer at any number of agencies listed on the Approved Pro Bono Organizations List.

Loyola also put money to work for the public interest.Since 1983 its Public Interest Summer Grant Program has enabled students to undertake full or part time summer employment in the public interest law. The Summer Grant program gives Loyola students the invaluable opportunity to perform public interest work while providing public interest employers with assistance they could not otherwise afford.

In 1998 the Public Interest Scholars Program was created. This scholarship program awards a number of scholarships in varying amounts to incoming students interested in a career in public interest law.  The selection is based on a combination of academic merit and public interest background and commitment. In addition to this funding, every year Loyola offers three Post Graduate Fellowships in Public Interest. These fellowships were established in order to create job opportunities in public interest for Loyola graduates. They were designed with the intention of providing legal services to the underrepresented groups that have traditionally lacked full access to legal services. It is our hope that all of Loyola Law School’s programs will help encourage and develop a diverse and qualified group of future public interest lawyers and leaders to ensure the future of public interest law.