SPILG SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS

Download SPILG Application Materials Here.

The Summer Public Service Fellowship Program, sponsored by the student-run Suffolk Public Interest Law Group (SPILG), awards approximately 50 student Fellowships annually.  In 2007, SPILG set a record by extending 70 offers to Fellowship applicants.  The Fellowships provide funding for students working in otherwise unpaid summer internships with government agencies and public interest groups. SPILG Fellowships are used in conjunction with federal work study awards to enable students to be compensated for full-time summer internships. The purpose of the Fellowship Program is to support Suffolk University Law students who are interested in public service, while providing an invaluable service to government agencies and non-profit organizations. Fellowships are paid at the work study rate.

Positions at public interest, non-profit, or government agencies supervised by an attorney are eligible for SPILG funding. The following types of jobs are NOT ELIGIBLE: 1) jobs in foreign countries; 2) jobs with private law firms even if they do pro bono work; 3) judicial clerkships; 4) jobs with political campaigns. In the past, Fellowship recipients have worked at legal services offices, prosecutor's and public defender offices, non-profit advocacy organizations, and government regulatory and enforcement agencies throughout the U.S.  Specific examples of SPILG placements include: District Attorney offices, U.S. Attorney offices, and Attorney General offices; Public Defender offices and the MA Committee for Public Counsel Services; the Environmental Protection Agency; the American Civil Liberties Union; and legal aid organizations, to name a few.  Fellows have worked in a variety of locations across the country from Boston to Washington, D.C. to Honolulu. 

Students have provided the following feedback of their experiences:

"I loved this position.  I had my own clients and participated in 100% of the legal work for the case.  We also had weekly brown bag lunches on different public interest topics and trainings by WilmerHale on negotiation and depositions.”  – 2L, WilmerHale Legal Services Center

“Great team of lawyers and a wide exposure to a number of areas of the law: health, housing, income supports, immigration, and family law.” – 1L, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children

“Incredible exposure to advocacy, client interaction, Mass Civil Procedure. It was perhaps the most rewarding experience I’ve had so far in terms of helping others.” – 1L, Greater Boston Legal Services

“Terrific opportunity to see what District Attorneys actually do on a daily basis, got to see actual court proceedings, became involved in real cases, gained an understanding of how the office environment works in a governmental institution.” –  2L, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office

The deadline for this year’s Summer Public Service Fellowship application is Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.  By this deadline, all application materials, including an identification sheet, resume and essay, must be submitted online through Symplicity.  Please note: grades are not considered in the granting of Fellowships.  Rather, the decision is made on the basis of a set of criteria, including the applicant’s level of demonstrated commitment to public service and the likelihood that the student’s summer employment will provide services to traditionally underserved clients.  Lastly, every effort is made to distribute awards fairly among first year and upper level students and day and evening students. 

Fellowship applicants must also apply for federal work study funding by submitting all necessary paperwork to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible, but no later than February 29th, 2008. Work study awards are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; if you wait until the work study deadline to apply, the funds may be expended.  Work study applications are available the first week of the Spring semester.

After reviewing the Fellowship applications, the Selection Committee will notify students of the status of their applications by the end of March.  While the number of Fellowships is limited, a waiting list will be maintained for students, as more funding will become available should students choose not to accept their Fellowship.  However, students are encouraged to explore additional funding options as well as this program.