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Summer Funding for Public Interest or Government Work

Last week, we posted a story about a new International Human Rights Program here at Chicago. Students will not only be able to work in places such as New Delhi, Sydney, and London, but the Law School will also provide funding for them to do so. Our Heerey Summer Public Interest Fellowships are one such source of that funding. The great thing about our program is that students can work in a wide variety of jobs - from one of these new positions abroad to the AG's office in New York. In fact, any position that involves legal work for the public interest, a non profit, or governmental organization could qualify for funding. The only caveats are that students need to work full-time for at least 4 weeks in their qualifying position and they need to make less than $1200 per week. In return, students receive a $6,000 partially forgiveable loan: $3,000 of it is forgiven when they complete their 1L summer work and the remaining $3,000 balance is payable over a year later, after they have had a chance to make serious cash at a firm their 2L summer. For 2Ls who decide to work in the public interest again their second summer, they could have the entire $6,000 forgiven. A large number of Chicago students use this funding each summer to pursue the summer job of their dreams. We have funded students working abroad and in states from Alaska to California and New York. As you research law schools, I encourage you to think about your employment prospects and the financial support that different schools provide. In future posts, I will also provide information on our Hormel Public Interest Program - another great source of support for our graduates who want to go into public service and government work.

Full post as published by A Day in the Life on December 08, 2008 (boomark / email).