Public Interest

Interviews take on particular significance with public interest employers, as they seek to learn about your interest in their mission and your fit with their office. The following resources can help you prepare to put your best foot forward in interviews with public interest employers.

Interested in learning more about public international law work? The following resources can help you begin your exploration.

If you’re interested in learning more about legal nonprofit work, check out the following resources.

Private public interest law firms (PPILFs) are involved in many of the same issues addressed by not-for-profit public interest legal organizations and government agencies – but in a law firm setting. Interested in learning more about PPILFs? The following resources can help you begin your exploration.

Interested in learning more about criminal law internships and careers? The following OPIA resources can help you begin your exploration.

As you make your game plan for applying for summer internships, you may be trying to strategize about which applications to submit earlier or later. Though 1Ls can apply to summer jobs on or after December 1, employers’ hiring timelines after that date can vary significantly. Here are some examples of employers with early deadlines.

A strong resume and cover letter are essential to making a good first impression with a potential summer employer and helping them start to get to know you. The following OPIA resources can help you perfect these documents and present your background and experiences in a way that employers will find compelling.

Interested in learning more about government careers? The following resources can help you begin your exploration.

In an effort to help guide you in your public sector summer job search and beyond, we've answered some common 1L questions about accessing OPIA advisers and services.

Fellows work on human rights issues in the U.S. by alternating between one year at Human Rights Watch and one year at the ACLU. Strong research, writing, legal analytical skills. Experience with trauma-sensitive interviews, media, and press releases. Exposure to complex litigation. Must be able to practice in U.S. during the two-year fellowship. Preference for applicants with knowledge of a foreign language. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment. 

Directed by Georgetown Law, Fellows provide quality representation at PDS to adults and adolescents accused of crimes, while developing skills as a clinical instructor. Emphasize long-term commitment to PD work and racial justice. Apply early for its rolling deadline. Submit all essay drafts for review well in advance of the deadline. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment.

Independence Foundation Fellows provide free, direct legal services in the Greater Philadelphia area. Only certain organizations are invited to host a single fellow. Consult your host organization about whether they are eligible for the fellowship this year. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment.

Please note that some deadlines vary by host country. Check the national deadline for your host country to determine which internal deadline you must meet. Project proposal should be endemic to the host country, detailed in methodology, and positioned as a “novel contribution to the field” driven by “why” and “how” questions for critical analysis. Besides the three letters of recommendation for a Fulbright (preferably 2 of the 3 from HLS Faculty), you will also need a Letter of Affiliation from the host country (faculty from an institute of higher learning/NGO), a language form from someone who has taught the host’s official language, and a Campus Evaluation (this fellowship requires a discussion with Judy Murciano in an advising appointment or during drop-in office hours). Submit your drafts for review well in advance of the internal deadline. 

If you missed out on the bidding period for V-PIIP virtual interviews, not to worry! You still have the opportunity to apply to many employers participating in the resume collection program. Bidding for V-PIIP resume collection runs through September 12th at 12pm ET. Find the current employer list here.

Some of you may be considering government work for your 2L summer. Most federal agencies, and many state and local offices (including the U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ]) offer formal internship programs for students. Learn more about how to approach your government internship search and read about important upcoming deadlines.

Check out our summer job FAQs for answers to more commonly asked questions about the summer public interest job search.

While you may just be starting your summer internship, we know that many of you are already thinking ahead to 2L summer and weighing the pros and cons of spending it in the private sector. In this post, we offer some thoughts you may find helpful as you consider whether to participate in the Early Interview Program (EIP).

As you take a breath between the end of finals period and the beginning of your summer job, now is a great time to start to familiarize yourself with the timeline and public interest job search process you can expect during your 2L year. (You read that right – you’re a 2L now!)