Public Interest
Villanova Law offers many opportunities for students who are interested in public interest practice. Through the externship, clinical and pro bono programs there are ample opportunities to gain practical experience in public interest work. The full time Director of Public Service Careers and Pro Bono Programs provides supportive and targeted career counseling for those seeking public interest jobs.
At Villanova, support of public interest is a school wide commitment. The Public Interest Fellowship Program (PIFP) Auction each Spring is one of the biggest events at the year and receives impressive support from faculty, staff, alumni and students alike.
Legal work in the public interest sector is critically important to the lives of low-income people, the elderly, abused and neglected children, victims of discrimination, people with physical or mental disabilities, and other members of our society who often lack advocates to speak for them. Villanova Law graduates can be found serving those populations throughout the public interest sector.
In an effort to support students who plan to pursue public service careers, Villanova offers a 100% tuition waiver through our Public Interest Scholars Program. Students selected for the program are required to complete three of their first five years post graduate in a public interest position.
Most public interest and public service lawyers enjoy tremendous job satisfaction. It is very rewarding to provide legal services to those in need. Public interest legal work also presents exciting opportunities to shape the future of our society. Moreover, the diversity of public interest law is attractive to many lawyers. Areas of public interest law are as varied as in the private sector. Public interest attorneys work in government agencies, public interest law firms, legal services offices, law reform agencies, and non-governmental organizations. They work on issues ranging from public policy matters concerning education, the environment or civil and human rights, to direct representation of individuals in proceedings ranging from child custody to criminal defense.
