Center for Public Interest Law and Advocacy

Penn State Law has a distinguished history of educating students about the professional responsibility of every attorney to provide legal assistance to underrepresented people, regardless of the nature of his or her practice. From orientation through commencement, public interest work occupies a mainstream position in the life of the Law School.

Penn State Law encourages students to engage in public interest service through:

• The Miller Pro Bono Program, a voluntary research program that pairs students with practicing attorneys who need research assistance on pro bono cases;
• a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP);
• a certificate program for students who complete public interest legal work before graduation;
• individual counseling with the Director of Public Interest Programming on pursuing a career in public interest law;
• research opportunities with the Center for Public Interest Law and Advocacy addressing the unmet legal needs of the poor and trends on efforts to increase access to justice;
• experiential learning opportunities including research centers, clinics, and externships;
• summer fellowships that allow law students to work in public interest environments;
• support of student organizations focused on public interest initiatives;
• week long educational celebrations of pro bono and public interest; and
• collaborative efforts to engage law and medicine in interdisciplinary initiatives.

To reach the director of public interest programming, contact Kate Cramer Lawrence at kmc32@psu.edu or by calling (717) 240-5210.

Complete an Interest and Commitment Form