SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC INTEREST WORK (WITH UPCOMING DEADLINES ) Presentation by MORTIMER CAPLIN PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ASSOCIATION March 1, 2010

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Transcript SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC INTEREST WORK (WITH UPCOMING DEADLINES ) Presentation by MORTIMER CAPLIN PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ASSOCIATION March 1, 2010

SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR
PUBLIC INTEREST WORK
(WITH UPCOMING DEADLINES )
Presentation by
MORTIMER CAPLIN PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER
&
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ASSOCIATION
March 1, 2010
HOW’S YOUR JOB SEARCH?
•A list of public service employment opportunities, fellowships, and
internship opportunities is available on Symplicity, PSLawNet,
Idealist, USAJobs, etc.
•Be sure to check recent postings, as the Public Service Center
uploads current opportunities daily.
•Example: The Chief Justice Edward F. Hennessey Fellowship offered
by the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee in Massachusetts
(deadline: March 15, 2010).
WHY APPLY FOR ALTERNATIVE
SOURCES OF FUNDING?

Percentage of applicants receiving PILA grants changes each year due to fluctuations
in funds and number of applicants.

Competition for public interest funding is much more intense in 2010.

PSC/PILA recommends applying for a wide variety of funding sources to account for
these market factors.
WHERE TO START YOUR SEARCH

This presentation lists a variety of alternative funding sources for public interest work
with upcoming deadlines.

Keep track of the deadlines and apply to multiple opportunities as soon as possible –
some of the opportunities accept applications on a rolling basis.

Talk to your employer: ask how previous interns have funded their summers. The
organization might have designated funding that it can offer some interns; some
employers may be aware of summer grants and fellowships available for their interns.
SOURCES AVAILABLE NATIONALLY
FUNDING SOURCES THAT MAY BE APPLIED IN A VARIETY
OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
JOHN J. CURTIN, JR. FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: Applications must be received by March 26, 2010.

Pay: $2,500 stipend for no less than 8 weeks of continuous work between May 1 and
October 1.

Description: Student must work for an organization run by a bar organization or legal
services organization anywhere in the country that serves homeless clients or those at
risk of becoming homeless. A lawyer (either a volunteer or paid attorney) must
supervise the intern in the program.

Website: http://www.abanet.org/homeless/curtin.shtml
EQUAL JUSTICE AMERICA
LEGAL SERVICE FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: postmarked no later than March 22, 2010. Awards will be announced by
email no later than April 21, 2010.

Pay: Up to $4,000 stipend (with an earnings cap of $7,500).

Description: Students may work anywhere in the U.S., provided the hiring
organization is a non-profit providing direct civil legal services to the poor.
Placements with public defender offices and government agencies do not qualify.
Students must work full time for at least 10 weeks.

Website: http://www.equaljusticeamerica.org
EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS
SUMMER CORPS PROGRAM

Deadline: The 2010 Summer Corp application deadline is April 16, 2010. The
application will be available from April 1 to April 16 on the EJW website.

Pay: $1000 education award voucher for more than 600 students.

Description: Law students who spend the summer in a qualifying internship at a nonprofit, public interest organization are eligible for the voucher. Students must
complete 300 service hours at the organization of their choosing. The voucher can be
used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans.

Website: http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/programs/summercorps/general
DORIS BUFFETT FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: April 1, 2010.

Pay: Up to $3,500.

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Description: 8 to 15 fellowships are made each year to graduate students in any
field of study at the University of Virginia who are professionally involved in
practical work in the topic area of children and families in need. Examples of
appropriate activity include law students working in public service settings and
representing children and/or families. Applicants are encouraged to think
broadly and creatively in applying for Buffett fellowships.
Website: http://www.virginia.edu/ccfl/buffett.php
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
BAR ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION

Deadline: March 19, 2010.

Pay: $5,000 stipend for at least 5 law students.

Description: The Foundation will award stipends to law students employed as
unpaid summer interns in positions with the FCC and other government
agencies or entities with a connection to the communications industry (i.e.,
broadcasting, cable television, telephony, satellite, wireless, and information
technology).

Website: http://www.fcba.org/foundation/internship_stipends.shtml
ANTITRUST LAW FELLOWSHIP AWARD

Deadline: April 23, 2010.

Pay: $5,000 stipend, plus possible reimbursement for certain travel expenses.

Description: Fellowships will be awarded to law students pursuing unpaid summer
employment opportunities within approved government agencies (federal, state, or
international) dedicated to the enforcement of antitrust laws, or other institutions
whose primary mission is the study of antitrust and competition law. In addition, each
Fellow will be assigned to a Section of Antitrust Law Mentor who will monitor the
Fellow’s progress and meet with each fellow several times throughout the summer
months and be available to offer any assistance.

Website:
2010.pdf
http://www.abanet.org/antitrust/at-law-student/pdf/summer-fellowship-
J.W. SAXE MEMORIAL PRIZE

Deadline: March 15, 2010, and applicants will be notified by May 1, 2010.

Pay: $2,000.

Description: The prize will be awarded to one or more college or university students
involved in public service. The award is meant to enable the student to gain practical
experience in public service by taking a no-pay or low-pay job or internship during a
summer.

Website: http://jwsaxefund.org/index.php
PRIDE LAW FUND FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: April 1, 2010.

Pay: Up to $5000 (total combined funding received by the student for the summer
cannot exceed this amount) for 4 students.

Description: The fellowships are open to law students working under the supervision
of an attorney at a 501(c)(3) organization anywhere in the country in areas of concern
to the lesbian and gay community, including public policy initiatives, lesbian, gay,
bisexual, or transgendered civil rights and education, legal work on issues of concern
to lesbians and bisexual women, and work in the area of HIV/AIDS, including legal
services.

Website: http://www.pridelawfund.org/fellowships/summer
QLAW FOUNDATION PUBLIC INTEREST
SUMMER GRANTS

Deadline: March 19, 2009.

Pay: Up to $5,000 for 10 full-time, 40 hour weeks.

Description: Law students who seek summer internships promoting LGBT rights or
the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS may apply. The QLaw Foundation offers
applicants a list of sponsoring organizations that have projects addressing issues
relevant to LGBT rights or the rights of people with HIV/AIDS.

Website: http://www.q-law.org/Default.aspx?pageId=167804
ROBERT MASUR
FELLOWSHIP IN CIVIL LIBERTIES

Deadline: May 1, 2010.

Pay: $1,000 honorarium

Description: Open to first-year law students who intend to carry out significant
activities during the summer in the areas of civil rights and/or civil liberties. Proposed
activities may include a writing or research project, work with a public interest
organization, work on a civil rights or civil liberties law case under the supervision of
a faculty member or lawyer, etc.

Website: http://www.nationinstitute.org/p/masur
SPECIFIC REGION FUNDING SOURCES
FUNDING SOURCES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE
IN SPECIFIC REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES

There are a number of fellowships available that are geographic specific; note that
some require work on a specific area of law or with a specific population.

Geographic areas include:
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New York
Montana
Washington, D.C.
California
Chicago
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Texas
See the additional information section for details on these fellowships.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DETAILS ON GEOGRAPHIC-SPECIFIC FUNDING SOURCES
ASIAN AMERICAN LAW FUND OF
NEW YORK SUMMER SCHOLARSHIPS

Deadline: March 19, 2010.

Location: New York.

Pay: $5,000 scholarship for up to 3 students.

Description: Projects must be with non-profit organizations and must serve New
York’s Asian American community. A proposed project should involve legal work and
have a supervising attorney. Work with nonprofit organizations that provide legal
assistance to the general population will be considered if you can demonstrate that the
Asian American community will be benefited.

Website: http://www.aabany.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=83
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
EDUCATIONAL FUND

Deadline: April 30, 2010.

Location: Metropolitan Washington, D.C.

Pay: Stipends are generally $2,500 for 10 weeks or 400 total hours.

Description: AEF awards summer fellowships to law students to work with public
interest organizations (government agencies or non-profits) that benefit either the
Asian Pacific American community and/or the metropolitan Washington, D.C.
community-at-large. Public interest organizations must be in metropolitan
Washington, D.C.

Website: http://www.aefdc.org/
LEGAL AID ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
DAN BRADLEY FELLOWSHIPS
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Deadline: Applications must be received by April 2, 2010.

Location: California.

Pay: $3,500 from LAAC and the host program for a 10 week internship.

Description: Law students who have a strong interest in working to defend and
expand the legal rights of the poor and the disadvantaged may apply. At least one
fellowship will be given to an applicant who works in a rural program or on a rural
issue(s). Students must work at one of the LAAC member organizations the
equivalent of ten full-time weeks this summer.

Website: http://www.calegaladvocates.org/about/item.Dan_Bradley_Fellowships
MASSACHUSETTS BAR FOUNDATION
LEGAL INTERN FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: March 12, 2010.

Location: Massachusetts.

Pay: $6,000 stipend for up to 6 students.

Description: This fellowship supports law students who have secured a volunteer
internship for the summer months at a qualified nonprofit organizations providing
civil legal services to low-income clients in Massachusetts. Interns must commit to 10
continuous, full-time weeks.

Website: http://www.massbarfoundation.org/grant-programs/legal-intern-fellowshipprogram
NEW JERSEY SUMMER
PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: All applications will be considered in the order in which they are received
and hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis, beginning in the fall of 2009.

Location: New Jersey.

Pay: Last year, interns were paid at a rate of $550 per week for rising 2Ls and $750
per week for rising 3Ls.

Description: The program places law students in public interest legal organizations in
New Jersey for a 10 week internship. Apply directly to Legal Services of New Jersey,
which refers prospective candidates to participating employers for final selection.

Website: http://www.lsnj.org/internprog.htm
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW INITIATIVE OF
CHICAGO INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Deadline: The online application period is open until March 31, 2010, or until every
agency has completed its summer hiring.

Location: Chicago.

Pay: $5,000 grant that is paid through the agency.

Description: Each summer, PILI funds dozens of internships at public interest law
agencies in the Chicago metropolitan area. Interns commit to 400 hours of work. PILI
provides a ten-week educational luncheon seminar series, and hosts social and
networking events throughout the summer.

Website: http://www.pili-law.org/internships.htm
ROBERT M. TAKASUGI
SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
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Deadline: March 26, 2010.

Location: San Francisco Bay Area or Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area.
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Pay: Up to $5,000 stipend.

Description: All fellows must work at a public interest "sponsoring" organization,
subject to approval by the Fellowship, such as 501(c)(3)s and public defenders'
offices. The organization must be in either the San Francisco Bay Area or the Greater
Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. Fellows work at a sponsoring organization for at
least ten weeks.

Website: http://www.takasugifellowship.com/about.html
SOUTH ASIAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW
YORK FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: March 26, 2010.

Location: New York State.

Pay: $4,000 fellowship to 4 law students.

Description: Fellowships are awarded to first- and second-year law students either (i)
of South Asian descent working in an unpaid legal internship in the public interest
sector or (ii) who will be spending at least ten weeks of the summer in an unpaid legal
internship with a public interest organization focusing specifically on the needs of the
local South Asian community.

Website: http://www.sabany.org/site/annual_fellowship_benefit_5th
BLASK FELLOWSHIP FOR THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT OF TEXAS

Deadline: April 2, 2010.

Location: Southern District of Texas.

Pay: Up to $2,000.

Description: Fellowships are awarded to several law students who serve as volunteer
interns in the offices of a federal court or agency within the Southern District of
Texas, including interning for a federal judge. Check the website to learn more about
eligible positions.

Website: http://www.fbasouthtexas.org/infoframe.html
FRAN KANDEL PUBLIC INTEREST GRANT

Deadline: March 22, 2010.

Location: Los Angeles area.

Pay: Up to $5,000.

Description: The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles provides grants to law
students working on a specific project that will directly benefit the under-represented
in the greater Los Angeles area. The project must make governmental and social
institutions and agencies more accessible and responsive to members of society
whose interests are not otherwise adequately recognized or asserted.

Website: http://www.wlala.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=66
POLITICAL ECONOMY RESEARCH CENTER
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Deadline: March 15, 2010 is the regular decision deadline.

Location: Bozeman, MT.

Pay: Monthly stipend of $1,600, in addition to round-trip travel expenses to Montana.

Description: PERC'S fellowships for graduate students and law students interested in
researching issues related to natural resources and the environment. Graduate fellows
spend three months at PERC in Bozeman, Montana, researching and writing a paper
of publishable quality. While there, fellows are required to present two to three
seminars to outline, report on, and summarize their research findings.

Website: http://www.perc.org/enviroprog/students/grad/apply.php