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Public Interest Law

Every year, the Yale Law School community brings energy and vision to work for the public good. In a typical academic year, 60% of students participate in public interest activities, through clinics and student organizations, and students can also choose from an array of public interest-related courses.

The YLS community’s commitment to public interest continues beyond the academic year, as approximately three-quarters of the first-year class and one quarter of the second-year class take jobs in the public interest, many of which are funded by Summer Public Interest Fellowships

After graduation, the Law School provides financial support for public interest work in the form of loan forgiveness and specialized fellowships. Ten years after graduating, 46% of graduates have held public interest jobs.

Explore Public Interest Law

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About Public Interest Law

Yale Law School has a strong tradition of service in the public interest. The work of our clinics, centers, voluntary student groups, and a rich array of public interest-related courses offer students a nearly endless number of opportunities to bring their energy and vision to work for the public good.

Part of The Tsai Leadership Program, the Ludwig Program in Public Sector Leadership helps prepare students for careers in areas such as government, nonprofits, and other institutions focused on serving the public.

Public Interest Law Faculty

Course Offerings

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Public Interest Activities

Law School centers, clinics, and student organizations enable YLS students to perform public service in activities ranging from legal research and writing to outreach in the New Haven public schools.

After graduation, Yale Law School offers significantly more postgraduate public interest fellowships than any other law school in the country. Both externally and internally funded fellowships enable our graduates to jumpstart their careers while serving the legal needs of underserved members of our society.

Public Interest Activities

Public Interest Fellowships

Financial Support for Public Interest

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Public Interest Career Services

Public Interest Career Services are available through the Career Development Office, which offers specialized counseling, as well as a wide array of services, programs, events, and resources for public interest-minded students and alumni in all stages of their career development.

Public Interest Programs & Resources

Career Services

Events & Programs

Other Resources for Students

About Public Interest Employers

Information for Public Interest Employers

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YLS Website Feed

Launching Careers in Service

Read about how Yale Law School-funded fellowships offer essential support for aspiring public interest lawyers.

Check back soon for new events.

YLS provides unparalleled opportunities for you to act on your passions and begin tackling challenging issues long before graduation. It has been such a privilege to not only have these opportunities, but also be able to work beside and learn from peers in these efforts.

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