Public Interest

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.

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!)

You have successfully navigated the summer job search, and you begin your internship full of excitement and optimism. But what if, in the middle of your summer, you’re not having the experience you’d hoped for? Perhaps you’re not getting enough work, or enough supervision. Or, maybe you’re getting too much work, or are confused about how to approach a project, or are feeling overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions for addressing some common summer internship challenges students face.

OPIA staff discuss factors to consider when choosing a 2L summer job.

A few plaintiffs’ firms and several litigation boutiques participate in EIP, but most plaintiffs’ firms and private public interest law firms (PPILFs) do not participate in campus recruiting programs like EIP or V-PIIP. Learn more about how the hiring processes differ with these types of firms.

Watch our panel of HLS alumni speak about their own journey from practicing at a law firm to a public interest career. Of varied backgrounds, our alums will share what they did to successfully make the transition and what they experienced along the way.

Watch this panel discussion with public-interest-minded current students as they reflect on their own decisions about whether to participate in EIP.

Explore the possibilities of gaining 2 years of support at the job of your dreams with an innovative project at a U.S.-based organization by hearing from the Equal Justice Works Foundation.

Learn about entry-level and post-clerkship job search topics like how to get started, what hiring mechanisms different types of employers use, and how to find job opportunities.

"I have never worried about the 'perfect path'."

"I could never have anticipated that I would end up doing what I do now."

"I had no problem getting interviews."

"Make space for an unplanned journey."

"There is no wrong path--only a wealth of choices."

"Your first job is not necessarily your final job!"

"I felt a bit insecure because my path didn't align with what I expected or what I saw others doing."

"I was concerned that my experience was too narrow."