Public Interest Law

Overview

The term Public Interest Law encompasses a wide variety of legal practice areas aimed at addressing various social issues and needs. Some public interest lawyers work on various types of cases for a particular clientele, such as the poor, whereas others focus on a particular issue, such as civil rights. Public interest lawyers may also work in a variety of capacities, from direct client work to public advocacy to policy analysis. Practice areas in which public interest lawyers work are virtually limitless and might include criminal law, family law, disability law, or human rights among many others.

Skills/Personality Characteristics

  • A deep commitment to the issue or client base with which the lawyer is working
  • The desire and ability to communicate well with people from many different cultures and backgrounds
  • Resourcefulness: Many public interest lawyers are operating within organizations that have tight budgets, and a good public interest lawyer must be able to find a way to excel at his or her job when working within limited means.
  • Emotional resiliency: Working with underrepresented client groups and/or advocating for social change may involve numerous frustrations and setbacks, and public interest lawyers must be able to maintain a positive outlook to avoid burn-out.
  • Not financially motivated: Most public interest lawyers earn far less than their counterparts in private practice, so the desire to work in this area must be motivated by something other than financial gain.
  • Versatility: Depending on the practice area and setting, public interest lawyers may have a wide variety of duties on a day-to-day basis from interviewing clients to advocating in court or in public.
  • Foreign language skills: While not required, many employers value foreign language skills, particularly those that overlap with populations in the geographic locations they serve.

Where do public interest lawyers practice?

Public interest lawyers practice in a wide variety of settings. Depending on the type of client and area of practice they may work in non-profit organizations, government agencies, legal aid clinics, international non-governmental organizations, or in prosecutor or public defender offices. There are also some for-profit law firms that focus on public interest issues.

Selected Courses at Brandeis School of Law

Because Public Interest Law can cover a broad spectrum of practice areas, there are many courses that could be helpful. This is only a selection, but check the course catalog for more related to your specific interests.

These courses have been taught in the last two years and may or may not be on the schedule for the next academic year. If you are interested in a course listed here, but the course is not on the schedule, please see the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

  • Non-Profit Law
  • Special Education Law
  • Elder Law
  • Employment Discrimination
  • International Human Rights Law
  • Psychiatry, Mental Health & the Law
  • Disability Law
  • Domestic Relations
  • Sexuality and the Law
  • Bankruptcy
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Labor Law
  • Dispute Resolution

Students should also consider taking courses in employment law and intellectual property as well as management and business classes taught at the business school.

Selected Faculty Who Teach in This Area

Again, because Public Interest Law can cover a broad spectrum of practice areas, there are many faculty members who may be helpful. This is only a selection, and you should look at individual faculty members’ bios for more information.

Craig Anthony (Tony) Arnold
Karen A. Jordan
Ariana R. Levinson
Laura Rothstein
Shelley M. Santry
Enid F. Trucios-Haynes

Student Organizations

  • Environmental Law & Land Use Society
  • Kentucky Justice Association
  • Student Animal Legal Defense Fund

Externships/Public Service Placement Opportunities

Our school offers a very large selection of externships and public interest placements. To learn more about externships, see Professor Karen Jordan. To learn more about public interest placements, please view our catalog on the Office of Professional Development website or talk to our Public Service Program Coordinator, Jina Scinta.

Also, the University of Louisville Law Clinic serves victims of domestic violence and assists individuals facing evictions. For more information on the Clinic, see Professor Shelley Santry.

Professional Associations

  • Equal Justice Works
  • Kentucky Bar Association Public Interest Law Section
  • Louisville Bar Association Government & Public Sector Section
  • National Legal Aid & Defender Association

For further reading, The Comprehensive Fellowship Guide: The Ultimate Resource for Law Students and Lawyers, (2007-2008), Non-Profit Sector Yellow Book (Summer 2011) and The Directory of Legal Aid and Defender Offices in the United States and Territories (2007-2008), are available in the OPD Library. Lawful Pursuit: Careers in Public Interest Law, Ronald Fox, 1995, is available in the Law Library.