2009 Public Interest Law Newsletter
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Tulane's roster of public interest activities is extensive and intensive.
Tulane was the first law school in the country to require its students to perform pro bono work as a condition for graduating. Every one of the 3600 students who has received a JD since 1990 successfully performed at least 20 hours of community service work. In fact, most students have exceeded the minimum requirement and thus were able to address even more legal needs. In 2006, the pro bono requirement was increased to 30 hours.
Tulane offers six clinical programs which range from the traditional civil litigation, criminal defense, and juvenile justice representation to newer clinics such as domestic violence, environmental, and legislative and administrative advocacy.
Our externship program offers year-long placements in a variety of government agencies and judicial chambers, as well as semester-long Public Service placements with over 20 organizations. Summer externships may be pursued virtually anywhere in the world.
Tulane's Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) awards summer grants to as many as two dozen first- and second-year students, These grants help to support Tulane law students who work during the summer for public interest organizations or state and local governmental agencies that cannot afford to pay wages comparable to those paid by private law firms. Funds for Tulane's summer grants come from active student fundraising managed by PILF, one of several public-interest oriented student organizations at Tulane Law School.
Tulane was the 15th law school in the country to enable its students to pursue legal careers in the public interest by helping qualified graduates to repay law school educational debts through its Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
For more information, please visit the Public Interest Law website:
In the Public Interest