Create a More Just and Humane World
Looking to be an effective advocate for legislative and policy reforms?
Begin your public interest career…
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.
Program Elements
OrientationThe Public Interest J.D. begins with a special orientation session the summer before classes start, introducing students to careers in public interest lawyering. |
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Career Plan
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Real Life Experience
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Career PortfolioThroughout 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
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. law.scu.edu/socialjustice
Current Students
- For an overview of the PIJD program, review the program elements document here.
- For detailed graduation requirements, including deadlines, refer to this document.
- A detailed chart of the different potential milestone experiences as well as required proof of completion can be found here.
- A generic Milestone submission/signature form can be found here.
- The Academic Plan submission form can be found here.
- The Career Plan submission form can be found here.
- A list of qualifying experiential classes can be found here.
- The list of courses that satisfy the PIJD graduation requirement is identical to the list of courses for the Social Justice graduation certificate. That list of courses can be found here.
- A PIJD Graduation Application form can be found here.
Please note: completed forms, proof of milestones, and graduation applications must be emailed to publicinterstjd@scu.edu prior to relevant deadlines.
Public Interest Alumni
Santa Clara Law has an impressive network of alumni working in the government and nonprofit sectors at the local, state, national, and international levels. Many of those alumni are committed to helping our current Public Interest J.D. students launch their careers in public interest law. Here is a small sample of the government and public interest organizations where SCU alumni are employed:
International Organizations United Nations International Criminal Court International Labor Organization U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office International Nonprofits Federal Government State Government |
Local Government Bay Area Air Quality Management District Santa Clara Valley Water District New York City Department of Education San Jose City Attorney’s office City of Hayward City of Fremont Morgan Hill City Council Santa Clara County Council Alameda City Council Domestic Nonprofits
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Contact Us
Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz
Director, Public Interest JD Program
crobinettjachimowicz@scu.edu
David Sloss
Faculty Director, Public Interest JD program
DLSloss@scu.edu