Public Service Support and Outcomes
The University of Chicago Law School supports students on a public service path with counseling, informational and networking events, guaranteed summer funding, a faculty public service mentor program, our Public Service Alumni Network, and more—but our support does not stop at graduation. Our alumni take advantage of fellowship opportunities and loan repayment assistance as they build public service careers at organizations across the world.
Postgraduate Public Service Law Fellowships
The University of Chicago Law School Postgraduate Public Service Law Fellowships are awarded to a limited number of competitively chosen graduating JD students who develop public service fellowship projects with public sector host organizations. Thanks to the generosity of alumni funders, each Fellow is awarded $60,000 to work full-time for one year following graduation at an eligible public service host organization on public service legal issues such as welfare rights, affordable housing, domestic violence, immigration, workers rights, special education, environmental protection and juvenile justice.
Over sixty graduates have completed public service law fellowships at agencies across the nation and abroad and 96% of those fellows have remained in public service. View the list of past and current Fellows and their host agencies.
Loan Repayment Assistance
The University of Chicago Law School Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is intended to alleviate the debt burden of our graduates who work in public service. The most inclusive program of its kind, our LRAP includes a straightforward application and a generous $80,000 salary cap. In addition, all graduates who serve as judicial clerks are eligible for the program. The LRAP works in concert with current federal debt relief programs to offer the opportunity for any graduate staying in public service for ten years to attend law school for free.
Pro Bono Service Initiative
The Pro Bono Service Initiative encourages our law students to complete at least 50 hours of pro bono service before they graduate. Participants in the voluntary Pro Bono Service Initiative contribute to their legal education by gaining exposure to important legal issues, invaluable experiences, and a hands on opportunity to influence how law affects real people. Students who fulfill their pledge and log their hours will receive a Dean's Certificate of Recognition, receive special recognition at graduation and receive a special notation on their transcript indicating that they completed the Pro Bono Service Initiative. The graduating student completing and recording the most hours will also receive a special Award of Excellence.
Employers
Students with a passion for public service have many choices after graduation. Some become professors. Others become clerks. Still others go directly to work at a public service organization.
Public service organizations who employ our graduates include but are not limited to organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Brennan Center, Bronx and Brooklyn Defenders, the Children's Law Center, legal aid agencies around the country such as Legal Services NYC, Bay Area Legal Aid, and Legal Aid Chicago, EarthJustice, the Environmental Law Institute, the Heritage Foundation, Lambda Legal, the Liberty Justice Center, as well as many government agencies at both the federal and state level, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Attorney's Offices (AUSAs), as well as Attorney General's Offices, various city Law Departments, District Attorney's Offices, and Public Defender's Offices across the country.