Funding for Public Service

Funding for Public Service

Financial confidence is essential to students entering public service careers. At UVA Law, we build confidence by providing students support every step of the way: full-tuition scholarships, guaranteed summer fellowships, interview travel funding, postgraduate fellowships, and a generous loan forgiveness program. Keep reading to learn more about what we offer and contact us if you have questions.

Virginia Public Service Scholarships

Created in 2017 with flagship endowment funds established by Tim ’83 and Lynne Palmer, Dave Burke ’93, and Ted ’92 and Keryn Mathas in honor of former professor Bill Stuntz ’84, the Virginia Public Service Scholarships reflect UVA Law’s commitment to advancing justice through the work of public service lawyers. Each year, two or more exceptional J.D. students in the incoming class will be awarded a full-tuition scholarship to support their studies at UVA Law. Scholars are selected based on their commitment to practicing as public service attorneys immediately after graduation, academic excellence, and potential for leadership. All applicants to UVA Law are considered. 

In addition to receiving specialized mentorship and counseling, scholars are admitted to the Program in Law and Public Service (LPS). Both Virginia Public Service Scholars and their fellow LPS members play a key role in shaping the public service community at UVA Law.  

Summer Fellowships

Virginia Public Interest Interviewing Program (VPIIP)

Students traveling 90 miles or more to interview with public service employers for internships and jobs may get reimbursed up to a certain amount for travel costs through the Virginia Public Interest Interview Program (VPIIP).  VPIIP is open to 2L and 3L students. More

Postgraduate Public Service Fellowships

Awards

The Law School offers a number of awards for students doing public service work. More

Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program

The Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program enables graduates to pursue public service careers and practice in underserved parts of Virginia. More

Summer Fellowships

UVA Law Public Service Summer Grants

Administered by the Public Service Center, this program provides grants to law students who accept low-paying or unpaid public service and judicial summer internships. The pre-tax amounts of these grants are $4,000 for 1Ls and $7,000 for 2Ls. Funding for this program is provided by the University of Virginia School of Law and generous alumni donations. In 2022, the Law School distributed more than $801,000 to 167 grantees. Grantee Job Locations

Grant Applications (Due Feb. 10, 2023)

PILA+ Grants

The Public Interest Law Association (PILA) also provides supplemental funding to law students who receive UVA Law Public Service Summer Grants and meet additional requirements based on their particular situations for the upcoming summer. Funding for this program is entirely student raised and is supported by donations from fellow students, faculty, alumni, and community organizations.

Women's Health Summer Fellowship

Provides financial support to outstanding University of Virginia law students promoting the preservation of women’s access to safe, affordable health care and to address systemic inequities and gaps that impede women’s access to health care in our country, including inequities in health insurance. 
. Generally, two J.D. students will be selected each year for fellowships up to $5,000 each. More

Katherine and David deWilde '67 Public Interest Summer Fellowship

Provides financial support to outstanding University of Virginia law students promoting the protection of civil liberties, human rights, and the rule of law in public service internships. Generally, two J.D. students will be selected each year for fellowships ranging from $5,000-$10,000 each. More

Democracy Summer Fellowship

Provides financial support to outstanding University of Virginia law students promoting the safeguard of our democratic institutions and justice in public service internships. Up to two J.D. students will be selected, each to receive up to $5000. More

LawTech Center Summer Fellowships for Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Technology Public Service

Provides financial support to outstanding University of Virginia law students who participate in summer internships in the fields of consumer protection, information privacy, and/or cyber security. Up to two J.D. students will be selected each year for fellowships ranging from $5,000 - $10,000 each. More

Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship

Provides $5,000 to three students or $7,500 to two students to work in public interest legal internships over the summer with a governmental agency or a nonprofit organization for a minimum of eight weeks. Fellowships will not be awarded to judicial interns. Applications are accepted in March and recipients are selected at the end of March or beginning of April. More

Mortimer Caplin Public Service Fellowship

Provides summer fellowships to exceptional law students who accept low-paying or unpaid public service internships.

Linda Fairstein Public Service Fellowship

Provides summer fellowships to exceptional law students who accept low-paying or unpaid public service internships.

Virginia Loan Forgiveness Plan

Understanding Loan Forgiveness

Students and alumni can view a presentation by the Financial Aid Office on how the Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program works. More

 

Jeni Popp

Paving the Way for Public Service

“The guaranteed funding for public service work at UVA has relieved some of the financial stress that can result from pursuing a public service career. Additionally, the counselors at the PSC have been really wonderful about identifying additional sources of funding that are available — both internally and externally — based on my specific career path and personal characteristics.”

—Jennifer Popp ’18