Different Paths in Public Service

April 11, 2012

Career opportunities in public service are varied and growing and there are many paths you can take to get the public service job of your dreams.

Are you passionate about a problem facing society today and do you have the desire to help find a solution?  Are you interested in global climate change?  Providing health care to children living in poverty?  Economic re-development?  If you are committed to a cause such as these, then a non-governmental organization (NGO) might be a great place to start your public service career.  NGOs bring together people with similar interests and concerns to work to address a variety of issues.  NGOs include nonprofit (tax exempt and other) and voluntary organizations on the local, state, national and international levels. There are many resources to help you search for opportunities with NGOs, and this worldwide directory of NGOs from The World Association of NGOs is a good place to start. If you have something specific in mind already, try this custom search engine.   While you’re still in school, try to get as much practical learning experience as possible by getting involved.   Volunteer to get your foot in the door, take internships that deal with issues that interest you, and look for summer opportunities. University of Michigan has the Public Service Intern Program, and you can also keep an eye out for non-profit and NGO openings at Idealist.org: a great resource for volunteer, internship, summer program, and job opportunities.  And if you are considering a public service legal career, make sure you explore the clinical programs, pro bono requirements and externships at the law schools you are interested in attending.  The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law School can help you quickly compare law school offerings.

Working for local, state, federal or tribal government is another public service option that offers tremendous variety.  From providing vital daily services to the public, to disaster response, financial management and policy analysis, government employees have the opportunity to assist in an industry that was designed to improve and protect the lives of people locally as well as throughout the country and world. You can find jobs in the federal government by searching USAjobs.gov, and find local and state government jobs on your state’s website. The federal government offers many development programs, such as the Presidential Management Fellows program and the Pathways Program, to get you started in your government career.

Academia is another important and influential public service career option.  Whether your passion is working with youth or lecturing at the collegiate level education is an area where qualified individuals are always needed in many areas of the country and the world.  And while a position in academia is often thought of as teaching, a public service career in education does not always mean standing in front of a classroom.  Other options are administrative positions in school districts, such as being a Principal or Superintendent, or staff positions in universities and colleges, such as recruitment and financial aid offices, career services or student group centers, and individual college offices. Gain experience in academia by volunteering as a tutor in your community, or seeing if you can work part time in one of your school’s administrative offices. Test the water to see if academia is right for you by applying to programs like Teach for America or local teaching fellowships.

One more note:  Public service careers are often lower paying than those in the public sector.  If you have educational loans and are concerned that you will be unable to “afford” a public interest career, there are programs that can help. Repayment plans like Income-Based Repayment (IBR) can help lower your monthly payment amounts, Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) can help you make those payments and with Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) you can earn forgiveness after making payments for 10 years. Don’t let the high cost of education stop you from pursuing a career in public service. Visit Equal Justice Works’ online resource center to learn more about IBR, PSLF and LRAPs, how they work and how to qualify, and the steps you can take to ease the burden of student debt.  Again, if you are interested in public interest law,  The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools has information that can help you explore different schools’ LRAPs, scholarships and grant programs to help you determine affordability BEFORE you go to law school..

Having an interest in a public service career is a great goal, and luckily you have a variety of options to achieve it.  There are many online resources that advertise positions in the fields noted above and more.  Some of these resources include Public Service Careers, PSLawNet, Higher Ed Jobs, The Center for Independent Consulting, as well as local and state government and news websites.  Best of luck in your job search and we commend you for following you passion into public service.

Nita Mazumder is a program manager of law school relations at Equal Justice Works.  She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with law school professionals and student groups as well as serving as the main point of contact for the organization’s National Advisory Committee. Nita previously worked for Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced in both the private and public sectors.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Myths and Realities of Careers in Public Service Law

March 20, 2012

At Equal Justice Works, we know that there are misperceptions that can deter students from pursuing a career in public service. We hope to dispel some of these myths and relay the realities, both positive and negative, about entering public service.

The myths:

1)    Because of your student loans, you cannot afford to work in public service.

As these jobs are typically lower paying, public interest employers are often sensitive to the difficulties their employees have repaying educational loans, both for undergraduate and graduate school.  Many government agencies and nonprofit institutions offer loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) that help employees make monthly loan payments.  Because the availability and exact provisions of these programs vary, when speaking with a potential employer, ask if they offer an LRAP as well as what are the requirements for their program.  It is important to make sure that an employer’s LRAP does not conflict with any other loan repayment assistance options you might be eligible for and to be aware that employer LRAPs almost always count as taxable income. Not all public interest employers have the resources to provide LRAPs, but they may provide information on other assistance programs for which their employees qualify. For example, employers of poverty lawyers in D.C. can petition to be eligible for the D.C. Bar Foundation’s LRAP.

The Federal Government also offers additional assistance to those entering into public service.  Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Based repayment (IBR) are two options available for borrowers with eligible federal direct loans. To learn more about educational debt relief visit Equal Justice Works’ website or send an email to debtrelief@equaljusticeworks.org.

2)    People working in public interest could not land any other job.

Public interest jobs are often incorrectly perceived as employment options for those unable to land a financially lucrative position. But as the economy continues to struggle and the job market remains stagnant, many students are looking to enter into public service.  According to a New York Times article, 16 percent more young college graduates worked for the Federal Government in 2009 than the previous year and 11 percent more for nonprofit groups.  Federally funded public service programs have also seen a drastic increase as applications for Teach for America jumped by 32 percent last year and applications for AmeriCorps positions tripled from 2008 to 2010. Competition for these positions continues as federal budgets are slashed, forcing programs to cut positions, resulting in the best qualified and most dedicated candidates being selected.

3)    You cannot get a public service job right out of school.

Although not all positions may be paid, there are many ways to gain valuable experience and become familiar with nonprofit organizations or government agencies that may ultimately lead to a paying position. During school try to get as much practical learning experience by getting involved at public service organizations.  Volunteer to get your foot in the door, take internships that deal with issues that interest you and look for summer opportunities. With recent budget cuts, many organizations are looking for additional help – look at idealist.org for open positions or organizations looking for assistance.  Inquire about volunteering for local pro bono legal providers (legal aid societies or other nonprofits that offer direct legal services) as well as public defender offices.  Working or volunteering in these settings is essential for those considering law school after graduation as these experiences can help you decide what sector of public interest law you want to pursue as well as help build relationships that can assist you in the future.

4)    Highly paid individuals are happier.

Even though those working in the private sector may be earning high salaries relative to their experience, there can be tremendous job dissatisfaction.  In the legal profession, public interest attorneys are often not paid as well as large firm lawyers; however, there is an overwhelming job satisfaction among public interest attorneys because of the direct impact they are having in their clients’ lives.  When working to make the world a better place, or on issues that are important to you, the size of the paycheck often doesn’t matter as much because of the passion you have for your work

Now the realities about entering a public service career:

1)    Public interest jobs are typically lower paying than private ones. 

Those who are in public interest will never earn as much as their peers at large corporations or law firms, but the trade off is increased job satisfaction as well as the personal satisfaction of working toward a common good.

 2)    The threat of budget cuts is ever present.

The potential of further funding cuts to public service organizations continues to be a threat as federal budget debates rage on and private donors cut back during the recession. Organizations may hire laterally and may hire volunteers instead of entry-level staff.  However, lack of funding and volatility are of equal concerns in the private sector as the job market continues to flounder.

3)    It can be harder to obtain public service jobs than private sector jobs.

Unlike large firms, public interest employers generally do not have a set hiring schedule where they bring on new staff each year.  Instead, they tend to hire when they have openings. They may not have staff solely dedicated to recruitment, as most corporations do, and often the person responsible for hiring also has a full workload and other responsibilities. Securing a job in public interest takes a concerted effort and perseverance. Students interested in public service need to be patient, as they may not obtain a job until much later than those working in the private sector, but continue to network and explore different options public service has to offer, including volunteering and fellowship opportunities. 

For those hoping to enroll in graduate, medical or law school immediately after graduation, it is important to consider where you might like to work after receiving your advanced degree.  Look at which programs and schools have a dedicated public interest programs or public service requirement as part of your degree. The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools, provides pre-law students the opportunity to compare law schools based on a number of factors, including the public interest experiences and courses available. In addition to selecting the correct school, be sure to utilize your summers to gain experience working with the populations you ultimately want to serve.  The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program allows for law students to gain hands on experience working with clients and assisting practicing attorneys focused on issues from assisting at-risk veterans to helping victims of domestic violence, to working on civil rights issues.  No matter what your passion, there are a number of fellowships and funding options available for students to work in public service for a summer.

The benefits to pursuing a career in public service are numerous and fulfilling.  Not only will you gain tremendous hands on experience that can lead to professional success, but also make a visible and lasting difference in the communities you serve, which is the ultimate reward.

Nita Mazumder is a program manager of law school relations at Equal Justice Works.  She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with law school professionals and student groups as well as serving as the main point of contact for the organization’s National Advisory Committee. Nita previously worked for Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced in both the private and public sectors. 

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Senior Struggles: what is a gap year and why is it worth my time?

March 14, 2012

A gap year can offer you an open road to opportunity

Follow each week as we present step-by-step suggestions to achieve post-college success with less senior year stress.

What is a gap year?

For most students, a gap year consists of temporarily working, interning or volunteering in between college graduation and graduate school. Career advisers and employers agree that taking some time off from school can lead to valuable life experiences. According to experiential learning coordinator Geni Harclerode, “I’ve never met a student who regretted taking a gap year before beginning grad school.”

There are plenty of benefits to be gained from the experience, however, Harclerode also emphasizes that it’s important to be honest with yourself about the real reason you want to take some time off. A gap year should not be used as a buffer from the “real world” — it should be used as a time to make one-self more prepared for the “real world.” After all, if you’re thinking of taking a year off because you don’t want to go through the agony of the job search, you have to realize that the search will be waiting for you after that year, and that opportunities don’t tend to come through osmosis, you have to chase them.

What can I gain from taking a gap year?

1. Potential to explore career options- some of us didn’t know exactly what we wanted to do when we got to college and some of us still don’t know what we want to do with our lives when we finish college. The best way to solve this issue? Try something! You’ll either like it or not, and you can move on with that knowledge.

2. Opportunity to hone leadership skills- Many programs such as Teach for America and City Year offer a chance to practice real-life leadership skills, the benefits of which will last far beyond the 2-year commitment period.

3. A chance to “give back”- giving back is a great feeling and you probably won’t ever have the opportunity to devote an entire year (or two) doing it once you’ve settled down.

4. Time to travel or try something different before getting tied down- a gap year can be a great time to simply diversify yourself, to try something new and different and to become a more interesting person. You’ll have plenty of cocktail party stories to tell for the rest of your life if you spend two years in Malawi working for the Peace Corps or teaching in a disadvantaged school in Detroit.

5. Opportunity to beef up the resume and gain experience that you might not have had time for in college- many of us didn’t join as many clubs as we would have liked or participate in as many extracurricular activities. For some it was because we had too much home work, for others, there were just too many um, social events to go to. A gap year is your chance to do all the admirable things you didn’t have time to do in college. Work for a presidential campaign, volunteer in Detroit or work for a non-profit, it’s never too late to become an over-achiever.

What if I’m making the wrong decision?

Ultimately you need to be honest with yourself about your true motives for taking time off from school. Are you doing it because you’re anxious about taking the next step in your education or career? Or, have you weighed the benefits and risks and determined that taking some time to explore something different is a valuable way to spend the year?

Photo credit: noizephotography / CC BY 2.0

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Posted by Nell Gable

Defining Public Interest Law

February 23, 2012

Today’s guest post was written by Nita Mazumder. Nita is a program manager of law school relations at Equal Justice Works.  She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with law school professionals and student groups as well as serving as the main point of contact for the organization’s National Advisory Committee. Nita previously worked for Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced in both the private and public sectors.

Public interest law is defined as anything affecting the well-being, the rights, health, or finances of the public at large, most commonly advocating for those living in poverty or marginalized populations. While it can be tireless work, and the financial rewards are not great, on campuses across the country, the desire to “give back” is growing.

According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the percentage of new lawyers entering public interest careers is growing; in 2010, nearly seven percent of new attorneys entered public service, up from just two percent in 1990.

There are many reasons to pursue a career in public interest law: dedication to a cause; the ability to make a difference; or the desire to take on significant responsibility early on in your career. Public interest careers encompass a wide array of practice areas, ranging from litigation and class action work, to policy, legislation and community organizing.  You could work at a direct legal service provider such as Legal Aid helping indigent individuals or focus on impact litigation that affects a large number of people.  You could work for a non-profit organization, an international non-governmental organization (NGO or a public interest law firm.  Other options include working for the federal, state or local government, as well as in public defender or prosecutor offices. Public interest attorneys work in many areas of law that, according to a recent report by NALP, will continue to grow in the near future, including issue areas such as immigration, healthcare, education, elder law, energy, veterans’ rights, and housing law.

Regardless of the category of work, public interest positions are coveted opportunities that require dedication and skill.  Because public interest organizations often do not have the resources to train new attorneys, employers in this field value critical practical experience and students should gain as much professional skills training while in school.   If you are interested in pursuing public interest in law school, try interning for a summer at a legal aid office or public interest law firm – working with low-income clients can give you a better sense of what their needs are and how a legal degree can better help you advocate on their behalf.  Take classes focused on social justice and history to gain a better understanding of the injustices and inequalities that have plagued our country in the past.  Other undergraduate classes that may be helpful include criminal justice, political science or classes that focus on enhancing logic and writing skills.  It is also useful for any career path to consider taking public speaking or debate so you can more effectively articulate and advocate for your cause or client.   It is also beneficial to learn a foreign language.  Being proficient in a foreign language is appealing to most public interest employers who deal with non-English speaking populations. . Leadership positions in organizations, student or otherwise, involvement in community activism, and volunteer activities are often also appealing to potential employers.

During law school focus on getting practical experiences such as filing and writing motions, courtroom experience and client interaction.  This can be accomplished through clinic work, a summer internship, an externship during the semester, volunteering at a public interest organization, or a fellowship for law students such as Equal Justice Works’ Summer Corps program.  While in law school, try to take coursework in trial advocacy and public interest related classes as well as participate in advocacy competitions and become a member of a relevant student public interest organization. Law school affords the perfect opportunity to explore different practice settings and issue areas that may interest you.

At Equal Justice Works, we believe that the poorest and most vulnerable among us deserve the same access to justice and quality legal representation as the more fortunate.  Our programs provide training and opportunities that enable law students and attorneys to provide effective and needed services in underserved communities across the country.  Programs like AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps are examples of service programs that help underserved communities and offer opportunities to work in the public service sector and discover what you may be passionate about prior going to graduate school.

We are committed to expanding public interest law opportunities for students and lawyers, and accomplish this by helping law schools establish and strengthen their public interest law programming and curricula; informing pre-law students about a law school’s public interest program through our Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools; and providing public service work experience, professional development and training (through webinars, workshops, conference and career fairs) for students and lawyers.  Through outreach and advocacy, we also work to reduce the educational debt barriers to public service careers.

To learn more about public interest law and the programs and services Equal Justice Works provides, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org.


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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Career Center Connector Staff Picks: Week of December 12th

December 12, 2011

Career Center Connector (C3) is the best way to stay informed on what you need to know as a job or internship seeker while you’re a student here at UM. Besides housing a resume builder, C3 is also a great way to find opportunities specifically for Michigan students. Each week, we plan to highlight a few positions that we come across that we find particularly interesting. Learn more, including application information, by checking out each pick on Career Center Connector. While you’re there, see what other interesting opportunities you find!

Betsy Krupar, Peer Advisor
Betsy’s pick: National Internship Program – Project Vote Smart
Job ID: 21135

My pick for the week is the Project Vote Smart National Internship Program. I found this internship program by typing in “politics” to the keyword search box. The reason that I like this positing is because it is a really interesting public service related internship, and part of the internship program includes living on a ranch in Montana that can be paid for with scholarship that the program offers.

Paula Wishart, Integrative Learning Coordinator
Paula’s Picks: Various Internships – Michigan Suburbs Alliance

Millennial Mayors Congress Public Relations Intern (Job ID: 20842)
Media Relations Intern (Job ID: 20843)
Partners for Transit Campaign Fellows (Job ID: 20844)

These are cool opportunities that you can get involved in right now that will help you develop essential job skills and professional networks. These internships impact key elements of urban/suburban development through the connection of southeast Michigan communities. In addition, they provide the opportunity to develop very practical skills that many employers look for in candidates. Whether you are a sophomore, junior or senior, you can get involved in this work and develop strong communication skills and interact with many levels of community leaders. These internships will also provide an opportunity to build a community professional contacts for future employment. Check them out if you are looking for a productive way to build your job skills and contacts next semester.

Ashleigh Maynor, Career Coach
Ashleigh’s pick: Various Roles (marketing, project management, fulfillment, art direction, sales) – Fugly Sweaters
Job ID: 19988

I have seen a lot of students within the last few weeks looking for an internship that would allow them to be creative in their work. I think an internship with Fugly Sweaters would be a great way for students to gain relevant experience, skills and contribute their innovative thoughts and talents to a start-up company. There are several different internship positions from marketing to sales. If that doesn’t sound appealing, then having access to some fashion forward ugly sweaters for next year’s ugly sweater party may seal the deal. I found this on C3 by clicking on the “Brand/Product Management” selection in job function. So, if you are a hard worker and enjoy doing fresh and creative things then check this one out. The deadline is quickly approaching!

Job/internship postings are included within Career Center Connector due to their potential interest to UM, Ann Arbor students. Inclusion of a posting does not imply Career Center endorsement of the particular program, opportunity or employer described.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Mythbusting: Jobs in the Federal Government

March 22, 2011

Today UM student and Partnership for Public Service Student Ambassador, Lauren Wisniewski, dispels myths and highlights opportunities about working in federal government. Lauren is a senior majoring in Public Policy and minoring in German, who in her role as a Student Ambassador works to educate and support students interested in federal government jobs and internships. Last summer Lauren interned with the State Department.

With a glimmer of spring in the air it is clear that the second half of Winter Term is well under way. That can usually mean one thing: the pressure to secure an internship or job opening is heating up.

BustedAn ideal job pays well, is in a great location, and offers career experience that will enhance any resume — and the federal government meets all of these standards. Yes, the federal government! However, internships and job openings in this sector are sometimes bypassed for those in the private sector as a result of many misguided perceptions. So, let’s do some myth busting.

Myth #1: Federal Government = Low Pay
One of the first concerns that many students have is that federal government internships will be unpaid. In fact, there are countless paid opportunities within every agency. There are also specific student programs, such as the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), that are always paid and serve as great stepping-stones into a federal government career. For recent graduates, the federal pay system is a structured grade scale from 1 to 15 that refutes the low-paying perception. Employees are paid according to factors, such as education, experience, and cost of living. For example, in 2009 a starting salary for a position in San Francisco could be from $44,976 to $55,015. With opportunities for quick advancement, the federal government opportunities are quite competitive with those in the private sector.

Myth #2: Federal Government = Washington Politics
Another common perception is that the federal government opportunities are limited to those interested in politics and living in our nation’s capital. Of course these interests can be fulfilled, but the options do not stop there. There are over 160 agencies, ranging in focus areas of public health, biology, engineering, architecture, education, and foreign languages, among many. Also, while Washington D.C. can be a captivating city, only 16 percent of federal government jobs are located there. Students or recent graduates can find opportunities across the country, as well as overseas.

Myth #3: Federal Government = Boring Bureaucracy
Before starting my summer internship with the Department of State, I thought federal government opportunities involved stuffy offices and robotic employees doing mindless, paper pushing work. Instead, I found myself listening to new languages along every corridor, interacting with a wonderful supervisor who encouraged me to be creative and attend interesting events on Capitol Hill, and creating work that would impact the lives of hundreds of American diplomats. Internships and jobs within the federal government offer outstanding experiences, which will help any student translate this knowledge to future employers.

Now that I’ve mentioned some of the benefits of federal government opportunities, how should you find them? There are a number of useful websites, such as makingthedifference.org, USAJobs.gov, and StudentJobs.gov. Other methods are to search through specific agency websites that pique your interest and speak with professors or other members of your professional community that are aware of the many employment opportunities. Some of the deadlines for internships may follow strict dates, but the options in federal government are numerous. You never know what you will find until you capitalize on the abundant resources at your disposal. With the summer and graduation quickly approaching, there is not a better time to look into federal government career opportunities.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Exploring Public Service Careers

October 1, 2010

If you’ve been pondering your post-graduation career and have a passion for public service, you may have considered joining the Peace Corps. However, you may not have realized the significant historical link between the Peace Corps and the University of Michigan.

On October 14, 1960, then-Senator John F. Kennedy gave a late-night speech from the steps of the Michigan Union, challenging U of M students to commit themselves to global peace and justice by living and working in developing nations around the globe. That speech put students into motion, advocating for the creation of the Peace Corps, which has now been facilitated international volunteer service for fifty years.The Peace Corps celebrates 50 years

Since its inception, 2,200 U of M graduates and almost 200,000 Americans have lived abroad through the program, making a practical difference in the lives of others and fostering peace.

The university is celebrating this 50 year milestone across campus with film screenings, exhibitions, speakers, and a even a photography contest. These events throughout the fall provide a chance to not only learn about the history of the Corps, but to understand the program, its people, and whether this path align with your own goals and passions.

Interested in public service careers in general? If you’re drawn to service within the US rather than abroad, take a look at AmeriCorps, which offers ways to make a difference domestically — promoting literacy, constructing affordable housing, and enhancing communities across the country.  Idealist is another fantastic resource for exploring jobs, internships and even volunteer opportunities with non-profit organizations.  And don’t forget about The Career Center’s Public Service Intern Program, with an application deadline of this Sunday!

You can also take a look at Career Center Connector and narrow employers/postings down to the non-profit industry. You’ll even notice few employers who you may have seen or spoken with at the Career Expo, including Teach for America and City Year Detroit.

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Posted by mcherem

Celebrating over 40 years of public service: the Public Service Intern Program

September 22, 2010

PSIP students in the Nation's Capital

Looking for an internship in DC? Not sure what the nation’s capital has to offer? The Career Center’s Public Service Intern Program (PSIP) can help you fuel your passion for experience in the public sector. While an internship anywhere can enhance someone’s skills in the workplace, DC is unique in that an intern can specialize his/her passion for public service. Whether it is networking with this nation’s leaders, deciphering the web of Washington connections, or confirming career aspirations, being an intern in DC is unlike any other city.

While in DC, I learned firsthand how to use my passion for public service in a specific area of interest.  I also learned valuable skills that I will use the rest of my life. While I grew professionally in the city, PSIP taught me useful skills throughout the year, as well. Applying for internships in an unfamiliar city can be daunting and tedious. Being unsure of the opportunities and how to navigate the numerous applications – which consist of multiple deadlines and differently perfected materials – adds to the worry of an internship in DC.

That is where the Public Service Intern Program (celebrating over 40 years of public service advancement!), can help ease you into the application process. Not only does PSIP teach students about the countless internship opportunities in DC, the program helps you prepare your application materials, such as resumes, cover letters, and writing samples. PSIP also helps you submit your applications, and teaches you how to rock an interview over the phone! A major goal of the Career Center’s Public Service Intern Program is to provide its members with the support they need to have a successful internship in DC, even once in the city. PSIPers are offered a group summer housing option in the George Washington Dorms, where they will live with fellow Michigan PSIPers and be surrounded by interns from schools across the country, as well.

As part of the support system PSIP provides, I am just one of two PSIP student coordinators who will be joining the PSIP group in George Washington University’s dorms next summer. By staying in DC with the new interns, I am able to schedule exciting events for the group, answer questions and handle emergencies. Together, we will be planning great events, such as a CIA tour, to help PSIP members make the best out of their summer excursion.

To find out more about the Public Service Intern Program, please visit our website.

If you are interested in applying, you can do so online through the Career Center Connector:
•    Log-in to Career Center Connector. If you do not yet have a password, click “Forgot My Password” and enter your umich e-mail address to have a password sent to you. Then log in and complete your profile.
•    Find the PSIP application in the “Jobs/ Internships” tab for an overview of the program and to access the short essay questions. Type “PSIP” into the search box, and it will appear on the top of the list.
•    Once preparing your materials, upload your resume and answers to the short essay questions in your “Documents” tab. Your essay questions should be uploaded as “Document Type: Other”.
•    Locate the PSIP posting again by conducting a search for “PSIP” under the “Jobs/ Internships” tab, select the appropriate documents (resume and short essay questions) under the “Apply” section and click “Submit”.

Questions? Email applypsip@umich.edu.

Vicky Jennings
Student Co-coordinator, Public Service Intern Program
“Celebrating over 40 years of facilitating public service”

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Posted by vjenn

The Call to Serve: An Overview of Public Interest Law (part two)

April 1, 2010

This is part two of an earlier post by Tammy Pettinato on opportunities in public interest law and advice on choosing the right law school. If you missed it, take a look at part one.

Choosing the Right Law School

The first step in any public interest attorney’s journey is choosing the right law school. While a law student can pursue a public interest career from virtually any law school in the country, there are some schools that provide extra support and incentives for students choosing this path.

For better or for worse, financial considerations must be taken into account when choosing to become a public interest attorney. As a public interest attorney, you will likely make far less money than attorneys in other fields, but, without proper foresight, will still have the same debt as your corporate law counterparts who make three and even four times as much money.

The good news is that many law schools now offer programs to help alleviate this burden. Several law schools offer loan repayment assistance for students interested in pursuing public interest careers. The level of assistance varies and you should check with each school about what types of employment are covered and to what extent. For example, some schools will help to cover loan payments only for non-profit work while others will also cover low-paying for-profit work that has a public interest focus. Additionally, programs differ in their expectations about and definitions of whether the employment is law-related. The federal government may also offer assistance in loan repayment for qualifying jobs.

Law schools that do not offer loan repayment assistance may offer financial incentives in other ways, such as through scholarships. Additionally, you should look at whether a given law school provides financial assistance to students pursuing public interest work during their summers in law school. Your summer jobs are often extremely important to potential employers as an indicator of your commitment to the field, and for many law students, the availability of financial assistance for summer positions can be the difference between whether or not they can work for a public interest organization over their 1L or 2L summers.

Students should also look at statistics from a given school to determine how many students go into public interest work after graduation. This information can tell you something about the level of both peer and administrative support you can expect for your choice.

Another factor to consider is whether the law school has a staff member dedicated to helping students who are interested in public interest careers. While some smaller schools may not be able to afford a specialist and should not be ruled out on that basis, having a person or even, at some schools, a full office, dedicated to assisting students pursuing public interest careers is an indicator that the law school takes such students seriously.

You should also look at the opportunities to pursue public interest work while in law school. Does your potential law school offer clinics with a public interest bent? Do they have one or more student organizations dedicated to students interested in public interest careers?

Finally, several law schools now offer special programs or certificates particularly constructed for students interested in public interest careers. For example, Georgetown University Law Center has a Public Interest Law Scholars Program which provides special assistance, including scholarships, to students dedicated to a career in public interest. The David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law & Policy at UCLA School of Law and the Public Interest Scholars Program at Western New England College of Law offer similar benefits as do myriad law schools around the country. While no special certificate is needed to practice public interest law, such programs indicate a commitment by the law school to assist students who would like to dedicate their careers to helping others.

Options Abound

There are a number of ways in which a law student can pursue a career in public interest law. Many law students begin early, pursuing public interest positions during their 1L and 2L summers and during the school year. Students who are interested in participating in public service while in law school have a plethora of options. At the University of La Verne College of Law, for example, students can participate in the Disability Rights Clinic or the Justice and Immigration Clinic, where they earn class credit while working with real-life clients under the supervision of an attorney. Many other law schools offer similar clinical experiences, and law clerk positions and externships with local public interest organizations are available across the country, allowing students to gain valuable experience in legal skills such as research and writing, interviewing clients, and analyzing fact patterns, while showing their commitment to public interest law.

Nonetheless, it is a reality of the current economy that many public interest organizations do not have the funding to hire the number of attorneys they need. Fortunately, fellowship opportunities abound, and many recent graduates get their start in public interest law by applying for a year- or two-year fellowship from an external organization, such as the Skadden Fellowship Foundation or Equal Justice Works, willing to fund their position with a public interest organization. Such fellowships often require that a law student has shown their commitment to public interest work via summer positions and other community involvement.

Even if you are not able to land a public interest position or fellowship immediately upon graduation, there are opportunities for you to pursue your passion while working in another field. For example, many major law firms now encourage their associates to do pro bono work, and some even allow time spent on pro bono projects to count towards billable hours. Students working at smaller firms may be able to volunteer with local organizations in their spare time to hone their skills and confirm their commitment to serving their communities.

Even if you find that you need to work for a few years in another field before transitioning to public interest, you should always keep your ultimate goal in mind. Do pro bono work and participate in public interest opportunities available through your firm or local bar association. Remember that even if you are not able to land a public interest position immediately upon graduation, pursuing activities that show your continuing commitment to the field means that once you have a few years of practical experience under your belt, you will be a much more attractive candidate to the public interest organization of your dreams.

1 Comment | Pre-Law | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

The Call to Serve: An Overview of Public Interest Law (part one)

March 30, 2010

Tammy Pettinato is Assistant Director of Career Services and Professional Development at the University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario, California. A graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Michigan School of Information, she also served as a Reference Librarian and Lecturer in Law at UCLA School of Law. While in law school, she worked for several public interest organizations including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, and the Institute for Democracy Studies. Below, Ms. Pettinato provides a nice overview of public interest law. Be sure to check out part two, which focuses on choosing the right law school, and on opportunities in public interest law.

There are few professional fields that offer the practitioner more opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others than the law. Nor are there many fields in which the need is so great: Studies show that only about 20 percent of those who need it receive adequate legal representation, and the poor are particularly vulnerable. While there are some practice areas to which a large number of lawyers are continuously attracted, the demand for good public interest lawyers continues to exceed the supply. Nonetheless, all lawyers have the ability, and many would say the obligation, to ensure that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to justice.

Lawyers can fulfill this obligation in a number of ways – one of which is pursuing a career in public interest law. This field can encompass a number of different practice areas, but the common denominator is that lawyers following this career path typically serve those who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal system. Examples of public interest legal jobs include:

  • Assisting low-income clients at a legal aid clinic
  • Providing representation to immigrants seeking asylum in the United States
  • Advocating for legal and policy change on behalf of underrepresented groups such as children or the disabled.

Pro Bono Duties

Other lawyers fulfill their obligation to ensure equal access to justice by providing free legal services, known as “pro bono” services, to clients outside of their regular legal employment. These lawyers recognize that no matter what area of law they have chosen to practice, they have a professional duty to volunteer their time and expertise when they can to people who may not otherwise be able to afford representation.

In fact, the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Model Rules state, “Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.”

Starting Early

Many aspiring attorneys begin fulfilling these professional obligations while still in law school. The ABA now requires law schools to offer law students ample public interest opportunities, and law students across the country are now actively engaged in making sure that our justice system works for everyone. According to August Farnsworth, Assistant Dean of Career Services and Professional Development at the University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario, California:

“Working for a public interest organization during law school is a great way for students to give back to their communities. Attorneys have a professional responsibility to help those in need, and it’s important to instill this value from the very first day of law school.”

But the opportunity to help others isn’t the only benefit for law students, says Farnsworth:

“Performing public interest work during law school gives students the chance to hone their legal skills, build their resumes, and explore a variety of practice areas to which they might not otherwise be exposed. Students can gain experience in, for example, research, writing, and advocacy, which are the kinds of skills that all employers value, whether they operate in the public or private sector.”

Check out part two of this series, where Ms. Pettinato focuses on choosing the right law school, and on opportunities in public interest law…

1 Comment | Pre-Law | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

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