Summer Funding

Public Interest Law Summer Funding 

The Law School provides summer funding to JD students pursuing public interest and judicial opportunities during their law school summers. We provide: 

  • Up to $8,000 for JD students who work full-time at a non-profit organization or government agency in the United States during their law school summer; and 
  • Up to $4,000 for JD students who extern with a judge in the United States during their law school summer. 

Funding is available to all eligible students who submit a complete application by the deadline and meet the requirements outlined below. 

Eligibility Requirements 

JD Students Working Full-Time at a Non-Profit or Government Agency 

Students must: 

  • Log 20 hours of pro bono, public service, or SFPIF work (at least 15 hours must be pro bono); 
  • Accept a 10-week, full-time summer position performing legal work at a non-profit organization or government agency under the supervision of a licensed attorney; and 
  • Submit the summer funding application. An email announcement will be sent when the application opens in mid-February.  

JD Students Externing with a Judge 

Students must: 

  • Log 10 hours of pro bono, public service, or SFPIF work (at least 7.5 hours must be pro bono); 
  • Accept an 8-week judicial externship totaling at least 180 hours during the summer; 
  • Enroll in a summer judicial practicum course, offered on-site or remotely (tuition-free); and 
  • Submit the summer funding application. An email announcement will be sent when the application opens in mid-February. 

Named Fellowships

Thanks to generous gifts from alumni, the law school offers several named fellowships to support public interest students with summer funding. 

Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship

This fellowship was established in 1996, in honor of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (JD '47), Skip Paul, a friend of the law school, generously established the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship Program. Stevens Fellowships provides $8,000 in financial assistance to students who have secured volunteer public interest summer jobs. The number of available fellowships varies each year.

Kleiman Public Interest Fellowship

This fellowship was established in 2008 by David Kleiman (JD '82) in honor of his father, Bernard Kleiman (JD '54). The Kleiman Fellowship is for work in any non-profit legal agency or the general counsel’s office of a union, with a priority given to those working on labor-related issues. The fellowship provides financial assistance to a student who has secured a volunteer public interest summer job. One fellowship will be awarded in the amount of $8,000.

Nussbaum Public Interest Fellowship

This fellowship was established in 2008 by William (JD ’83) and Susan Nussbaum (JD ’83). The fellowship is for public interest work in a non-profit or government agency. The Nussbaum Fellowship provides financial assistance to a student who has secured a volunteer public interest summer job. One fellowship will be awarded in the amount of $8,000.

Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld Public Interest Fellowship

This fellowship was established in 2010 by the partners of the law firm in an effort to support Northwestern Law students interested in pursuing public interest law. As a student at Northwestern Law, Michael Bien and his classmates started the Student Funded Public Interest Fellowship (SFPIF). The fellowship provides financial assistance to a student who has secured a volunteer public interest summer job. One fellowship will be awarded in the amount of $8,000.

Global Public Interest Fellows Program

This program provides $9,500 in funding for up to six JD students per year to work abroad during the summer for an approved governmental or nongovernmental organization active on legal issues. For questions or more information regarding the Global Public Interest Fellows program, please email public-interest-center@law.northwestern.edu .