Description
PILF raises money to give out as Summer grants to Tulane law students pursuing unpaid work in public interest internships (at public defenders' offices, immigration defense firms, environmental organizations, etc.). These grants serve as a modest living stipend and help to support law students wanting to make a change in the world. This year, in conjunction with our live auction, we are hoping to raise money through the WaveStarter platform so that we can raise as many funds as possible for the large number of students working in public interest. Our goal is to offer as many of these grants as possible to allow students to perform this crucial work.
Donations are applied to...
All donations will help fund modest summer living stipends for passionate law students dedicated to public interest advocacy. Eligible members are required to work for public interest service organizations for at least 5 weeks of their summer, while a full grant is earned through a 10 week placement (unpaid). Past worksites have included the ACLU, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, and the Orleans Public Defenders. Most of these sites operate on a razor-thin budget and rely on volunteer law students to provide much-needed advocacy to the communities they represent.
Personal Message
Thank you for participating!
Why are donations necessary?
PILF grants enable Tulane law students to serve communities all across the country and take their first steps toward a career in public interest law at a time when the need could not be greater. PILF grantees gain valuable legal experience and skills while helping provide legal representation to people facing eviction, child custody issues, toxic pollution in their neighborhoods, and even the possibility of deportation or jail time. But despite the urgent and widespread need for legal services to address these issues, summer positions at public interest offices are usually unpaid and staff attorney positions grossly underpaid. For these reasons, relatively few law students pursue careers in public service upon graduation. Through its grant program, PILF supports students exploring this career path in the hopes that they will go on to fight for justice and serve the legal needs of ordinary people, as many PILF alumni have.