Public interest law includes a broad range of practice areas and employment opportunities. Public interest lawyers work in legal aid offices; at private law firms or as solo practitioners doing civil rights, fair housing, or employment discrimination; in government agencies such as the Public Defender’s office or Attorney General’s office; or as in-house counsel at nonprofits or advocacy organizations such as the ACLU, Advocates for Human Rights, Gender Justice, or the NAACP LDF; as well as many other places.Public interest law can include social justice advocacy, impact litigation, movement lawyering, and transformative lawyering. Public interest lawyers may do litigation, transactional work, or policymaking. They often represent and advocate for the rights and interests of individuals or groups that are underrepresented or marginalized in society through direct client representation or by influencing legislation, regulation, and public policy.
Organizations that serve the public interest often do not have the resources to train new attorneys. Students interested in public interest work should seek out as much professional skills training while in law school as they can.
The courses provided below focus on doing public interest work more generally in the civil context. For related pathways, see below.
Stage 1
Core Courses
| Administrative Law |
| Advocacy |
| Evidence |
| Professional Responsibility |
Stage 2
Core Courses
| 1 Clinic (see below) |
| 1 Externship (see below) |
| Civil Rights |
| Employment Discrimination |
| Fair and Affordable Housing |
Recommended Courses
| Critical Race Theory |
| Immigration Law |
| Introduction to Business Organizations |
Stage 3
Core Courses
| 1 Seminar (see below) |
| Additional Clinic and/or Externship |
Other Courses to Consider
| Center and Institute Offerings |
| Child and Family Law Courses |
Recommended Clinics
| Clinic: First Amendment Activism |
| Clinic: Economic Inclusion |
| Clinic: Immigration |
| Clinic: Nonprofit Tax Planning |
| Clinic: Wrongful Conviction and Sentencing |
Recommended Externships
| Externship: Administrative Law |
| Externship: Government Agency |
| Externship: Legislative & Lobbying |
For related pathways for doing public interest work in the criminal law context or in more narrow substantive areas, check out the following:
Criminal Law
Elder Law
Employment Law
Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Law
Government Practice
Health Law
Pathway Coordinator
