The Program
The Office of Public Interest and Community Service (OPICS) advises students on public interest careers and supports a vast array of public interest activities and programs. Specifically, the Public Interest Law Scholars Program (PILS) provides financial and other support each year to eight students who demonstrate a commitment to spend most of their careers in public service.
Who May Apply
Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career as a public interest lawyer, should have prior involvement in broadly defined public service activities and should exhibit excellent academic achievement. Additionally, Georgetown Law strives to select a group of Scholars that is broadly diverse in many ways, including the fields of public service in which the Scholars are interested. Full-time and part-time applicants may both apply to the PILS Program.
Application Process
PILS applications for Fall 2009 are due by February 1, 2009. Earlier application is recommended, because only candidates who have been accepted for admission to Georgetown Law by the time the selection committee meets can be considered for selection as Scholars.
Applicants to the PILS Program must fill out a separate PILS Application Form. Applicants must also provide a resume. Applicants may submit PILS Application materials at the same time that they apply to Georgetown Law, or may send them in later, provided they do so before the deadline. PILS application materials should not be sent to the Office of Admissions.
Please send all PILS application materials directly to:
Public Interest Law Scholars Program
c/o Office of Public Interest and Community Service
Georgetown University Law Center
600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001-2075
Phone: (202) 662-9655
E-mail: opics@law.georgetown.edu
The Selection Process
The selection committee consists of two faculty members and two assistant deans, appointed by the Dean of the law school, and two graduating Public Interest Law Scholars, selected by the group of graduating Scholars. Two members of the selection committee read the application of each candidate who has been admitted to Georgetown Law. Any candidate selected by either member becomes a finalist. The full selection committee reads the entire Georgetown Law application, including the Public Interest Law Scholar application, of all finalists, and selects the Scholars and a realistically short waiting list.
Please click here for the PILS website and a full description of the program and requirements.
