The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF), one of the law school's largest and most active student organizations, promotes interest and opportunities in public interest law at Tulane.
Founded in 1983, PILF was created as a student-run organization with three main goals:
- To encourage students to participate in public interest;
- To help fund summer grants, and;
- To provide inspiration and support to those seeking careers in public interest law.
Our grant recipients work in organizations throughout the country, and internationally, that provide legal services to traditionally underrepresented individuals and interests. In addition to raising money to fund grants, PILF promotes public interest work in the law school by inviting public interest attorneys to speak, encouraging pro bono work among law students and collaborating exensively with the Career Development Office to make sure that public interest-minded students are informed with regard to available summer employment, fellowships, grants, Federal loan forgiveness programs, loan repayment assistance, internships, and, of course, post-graduation employment. Finally, PILF facilitates the involvement of law students in the greater New Orleans community by organizing monthly community service projects and volunteering in local schools through our Street Law program.