Public Interest Fellowships
Fellowships are great ways for students to obtain funding to pursue summer public interest employment opportunities.
Minnesota Justice Foundation Summer Clerkship Program
Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) provides opportunities for paid summer clerkships for students to work at partner agencies. The formal application process typically commences in the beginning of the spring semester, and interested students should watch for more information in the preceding fall semester. In the meantime, you can learn more about the Summer Clerkship Program on MJF’s website.
Public Interest Law Fellowships
MJF also coordinates and raises funds to support additional Public Interest Law Fellowships (PILF). In order to receive PILF funding, students must identify their own agencies and prepare their own proposals for summer experiences. Watch for information about PILF fundraisers and application procedures in the spring semester, and contact the MJF staff attorney for more information.
Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works (EJW) is a nation-wide organization that funds students’ independent grant proposals for public interest work. EJW also funds post-graduate fellowships.
Institute to Transform Child Protection Fellowship
In 2019, the Mitchell Hamline School of Law Institute to Transform Child Protection announced the creation of two Child Welfare Fellowships for Mitchell Hamline students to work full-time over the course of Summer 2019 at either Central Minnesota Legal Services or The Institute to Transform Child Protection. Students interested in similar opportunities in the future should contact childprotection@mitchellhamline.edu.
Other Resources for Funding Public Interest Work
Loan Repayment Programs
Mitchell Hamline’s Financial Aid Office has information about loan repayment programs for students and alumni working in public interest jobs.
PSJD.org
PSJD is a national resource for law students and attorneys interested in public service. Among other resources, PSJD includes an extensive jobs database with a variety of public interest opportunities, include paid and unpaid internships, fellowship opportunities, and more. Mitchell Hamline is already a subscribing member, so to utilize this resource, students can create an account using their Mitchell Hamline email.