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A commitment to service

Our tradition of service is rooted in our Jesuit identity. Our commitment to working for the public interest means our students have the opportunity to use their legal skills to help those in need. And our mission doesn’t end at graduation. Countless alumni are working directly in the public interest community or doing substantial pro bono work.

With the support of administration, faculty and staff, the work of Loyola University School of Law's Center for Public Interest touches our community in many ways:

Opportunities

  • Clinics and practica
  • Public interest externships
  • JD-MPP dual degree program
  • Student organizations oriented to social justice and public interest
  • Working with the Rodin Center for Social Justice Alternative spring break trips regarding health equity or immigration with clinical professors
  • Pro bono opportunities

Events and programs

  • 1L Public Interest Law Convocation
  • Hunger Week educational programs and activities
  • Annual Public Interest Luncheon recognizing students' public service
  • Symposia and conferences centered around child law, educational law, immigration, health disparities and other public interest topics

Education

  • An expansive list of public interest-oriented courses (See the Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate)
  • Supporting diversity and inclusion through programming at Loyola
  • Election law training for Eelection protection work
  • Law- related education in schools, libraries, detention centers, and community centers
  • New curriculum development responding to community need and student interest in areas including immigration, environmental law, race and the law, and election law, among others
  • Advising, developing programming with, and supporting student groups dedicated to public interest and social justice
  • Youth training on educational rights and immigration issues

Service

  • Days of service, ranging from legal outreach to beach cleanups
  • Regular opportunities to serve meals to low-income residents and recent migrants in the Loyola community
  • Mentoring high school and college students, particularly around legal issues and legal careers
  • Volunteering at citizenship workshops and voter registration drives

Support for Students and Alumni Involved in Public Interest Work 

  • Public interest-related scholarships for students
  • Stipends to support summer public interest work
  • Public interest fellowships for recent graduates
  • Loan Assistance Repayment Program
  • Career Services support for public interest-oriented students

Certificate

Loyola Law offers the Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate, which is designed to prepare students to represent underserved populations and protect the legal rights of those in need.