PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ASSOCIATION AT UVA LAW
Showcasing & honoring public service
UVA Law is committed to the ideal that lawyers have a special obligation to serve the public interest. The school’s Loan Forgiveness Program, administered by the Financial Aid Office, helps remove the burden of debt repayment for students who choose lower-paying public service careers, making virtually any career a practical possibility for students.
There are many different ways for students to get involved with public service at UVA Law. Please see below for more information!
The Public Interest Law Association
PILA organizes community service days and other opportunities for public interest-oriented students to connect with one another. It also helps raise money for summer grants that enable students to work in a public service positions over their 1L and 2L summers.
The Pro Bono Program
Students can gain practical experience during the academic year by volunteering for projects organized by the school’s Pro Bono Program. For information on pro bono opportunities and the 75-Hour Pro Bono Challenge, click here.
The Public Service Center
The Public Service Center (PSC) helps students access careers in public service. It typically holds public service OGIs in September and February. PSC counselors provide information on job opportunities tailored to students' ideal career paths. Read more about PSC counselors and the PSC’s collection of employment resources.
The Virginia Public Interest Interviewing Program (VPIIP)
The VPIIP reimburses students traveling 90 miles or more to interview with public service employers for internships and jobs. Students must register in advance to be eligible for this funding. VPIIP is open to 2L and 3L students. More information can be found here.
The Program in Law and Public Service (LPS)
LPS is designed to offer a select group of students the opportunity to receive intensive, tailored training that will prepare them for a career in public service. Each year, around 25 first-year students are admitted to the program and another 5 slots are held open for second-year students. For more information, click here.
Fall and Spring Days of Service
PILA hosts one Day of Service every semester. The Fall Day of Service takes place the weekend before 1L orientation. The Spring Day of Service generally takes place in February. This is a great way to get involved in and give back to the Charlottesville community with fellow law students. We have a variety of partner organizations who host in-person volunteer events, including the CASPCA, Camp Holiday Trails, and Rivanna Conservation Alliance. All time spent volunteering for this event can be counted toward students' public service hours for purposes of the summer PILA grant program.
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Please reach out to our Service Director, Delaney Tubbs (pvc6mj@virginia.edu), with any questions or for additional information.
The Shaping Justice Award
The Shaping Justice Awards arose from the inaugural Shaping Justice Conference in 2017. Each year, the awards recognize alumni who have shown true dedication to the pursuit and practice of social justice lawyering. The Extraordinary Achievement Award and Rising Star Award recognize the current and future generation of public interest advocate leaders, respectively. The awards are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields, a dedication to community building across practice areas, and a passion for paying it forward to aspiring public interest attorneys.​
The Claire Corcoran Award
Each spring, we accept nominations for the Claire M. Corcoran Award. The Award was established in 1990 with the creation of a memorial fund for Claire M. Corcoran, a graduate of the Law School’s Class of 1989. The Corcoran Award is presented to one or two 2L students who have demonstrated, as Ms. Corcoran did, an exceptional commitment to public service. In addition to the honor of being designated as the Corcoran Award recipient, the selected student will receive a generous cash prize.
The Shaping Justice Conference
The Shaping Justice Conference is a joint effort of PILA, the Program in Law and Public Service, and UVA’s Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center. Last year's theme was Forging a More Just Society, featuring Derecka Purnell as the keynote speaker. Ms. Purnell is a lawyer, writer, organizer, and author of the newly-released book “Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom.”
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To learn about this year's conference, please reach out to our Conference Director, Evan Carcerano (emc3dk@virginia.edu).