Student Opportunities

As a cornerstone of our mission, the Public Interest Center offers students a range of opportunties to explore, experience and practice public interest law. We are also committed to teaching students the value and reward of pro bono work. Several inititives anchor our student opportunities:

Pro Bono Service Project
In 2003, the Law School inaugurated the Pro Bono Service Project in furtherance of the principle that law students and members of the legal profession have a special obligation to assist in providing quality legal services to those who cannot afford it. The Program challenges all law students in good academic standing to pledge at least 30 hours of law-related volunteer work before they graduate. L.L.M. students can also participate by pledging to complete 10 hours of service. To meet thier Pro Bono Pledge, students must be supervised by a licensed attorney or law faculty member and perform work that benefits under-served individuals or causes. Students meeting 30 hours of pro bono service receive a notation in the graduation bulletin and a certificate from the Dean of the Law School for a Bronze Pro Bono Service Award. Students exceeding the minimum 30-hour Pledge receive the Silver Pro Bono Service Award for 50 volunteer hours and the Gold Pro Bono Service Award for 100 volunteer hours Students meet with Center Director Rachel D. Andron to determine their placements and get additional support from counselors in the Law School's Office of Career Services. Throughout the year, the Center hosts programs on Pro Bono Service Project opportunities. You can also view the Pro Bono Service Project Handbook and related forms.

Public Interest Fellowship Program
Through the Public Interest Fellowship Program, the Law School encourages students to participate in the delivery of legal services to the underserved. The Public Interest Fellowship Selection Committe awards fellowships to qualified students for for full-time summer positions with non-profit organizations and governmental agencies representing traditionally underrepresented clients, groups or interests. In 2011, the Committe awarded 17 fellowships, the most in the School’s history, to students working in areas such as domestic violence, mental health, community development and child advocacy. We invite you to learn more about the Fellowship Program's requirements and application.

Loan Replacement Assistance Program (LRAP)
LRAP provides financial assistance to qualified Law School graduates working in public interest positions by paying a portion of their law school educational loan debt. Qualifying employment consists of full-time employment with a non-profit organization. In keeping with the St. John’s Vincentian mission of service to others, the Program seeks to enable graduates to select their employment without being precluded from public interest and government options because of financial hardship. It also aims to encourage St. John’s law graduates to choose public interest and public service careers. The Law School recognizes that the legal community has a responsibility to provide services to people who cannot otherwise afford representation. Funding for LRAP has been made available through the generosity of Law School alumni and benefactors. In order to qualify for benefits under the Program, the LRAP Committee has determined that neither the applicant’s salary nor the applicant’s annual income can exceed $62,038, in keeping with the New York State Law Department’s salary scale. Loans awarded under LRAP will be forgiven one year from the date of issuance, provided that the graduate has remained in qualified employment for that year. To apply for benefits under LRAP, please complete and submit the application form.

Public Interest Career Counseling
Center Director Rachel D. Andron is available to meet with students interested in pursuing a public interest career. The Center also teams with the Law School's Office of Career Services to provide many resources, guides and programs designed to help students with public interest career planning, including the Public Interest Handbook.