Public Interest J.D.
Looking to be an effective advocate for legislative and policy reforms?
The Public Interest J.D. (PIJD) benefits students who are interested in criminal law, environmental law, human rights law, racial justice, immigration law, anti-discrimination law, and other legal careers related to public interest and social justice. You will be empowered to be an effective advocate who can harness your law degree to work for legislative and policy reforms and to serve marginalized and underrepresented clients and causes.
Students must apply for the PIJD program in their application to Santa Clara Law.
Programs Elements
Orientation
The Public Interest J.D. begins with a special orientation session the summer before classes start, introducing students to careers in public interest lawyering.
Career Plan
Students will chart their own career paths, creating customized plans to guide them through their law school experience and beyond, with help from assigned faculty advisors and attorney mentors.
Real Life Experience
All PIJD students complete three semesters of experiential learning, including at least one internship or externship of three or more units.
Career Portfolio
Throughout the program, students will create and maintain individualized career portfolios to showcase their skills and experiences for potential employers.
Milestones
Unlike a traditional certificate program, successful completion will be based on milestones, not classes. Students need to demonstrate that they have completed certain benchmark experiences, such as:
- Interview an individual client under the supervision of an attorney, and prepare a summary and legal analysis
- Attend a judicial proceeding that is directly related to a client’s case
- Draft a document that can be used to expose a significant problem
- Participate in an advocacy campaign
- Evaluate, discuss, and propose resolution of an actual or simulated ethical issue
- Participate in a cross-disciplinary team
- Attend a meeting of a legislative or policy-making body
Each year, the Center for Social Justice recognizes students who complete at least 50 hours of pro bono service during the academic year.
Congratulations to Public Interest Scholars Tyler Hawes, Trinity Chung and Rachel Nishimoto on being selected as John Paul Stevens Foundation 2026 Fellows.
This spring, Lauren Wright '27 and Tyler Hawes '28, two Public Interest J.D. (PIJD) students traveled to Washington University School of Law to participate in the 2026 Model Constitutional Convention, joining law students from across the country in a unique simulation of constitutional reform and governance.
The PIJD Program is enhanced by its collaboration with Santa Clara Law’s Center for Social Justice and Public Service. The Center, dedicated to promoting social justice through law, offers events and learning opportunities that enrich our students’ academic experience. These include speakers on current social justice issues, the Spring Break Border Service Project, the Second Chances and Empathy Hackathon, and summer grants for students working in government offices and nonprofit organizations.
Graduation Requirements
Review program elements, forms, deadlines, graduation requirements and milestones
Our Alumni at Work
Santa Clara Law has an impressive network of alumni working in the government and nonprofit sectors at the local, state, national, and international levels. Here is a small sample of where SCU alumni are employed.
I deeply value the practical experience I was able to gain in various public interest roles while a student at Santa Clara Law, but what I treasure most is the connections I made with like-minded students who found their home at Santa Clara
Contact Us
Questions? Let’s Connect: publicinterestjd@scu.edu
Associate Clinical Professor of Law
Co-Director, Public Interest JD Program John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Professor of Law
Sr. Program Manager, CGLP & PIJD