We are law students and alumni of Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, CA who are interested in raising awareness among people in the law profession about the value of making a commitment to public service legal work.
PILF stands for Public Interest Law Foundation. Some law schools use different acronyms like PILO which stands for Public Interest Law Organization or PILC which stands for Public Interest Law Committee. While the acronyms vary, most of the groups are pretty similar.
PILF at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and most other law school public interest groups are members of Equal Justice Works, formerly known as National Association for Public Interest Law NAPL. (So many acronyms, these days...just remember PILF for now!)
"Public Interest Law is the use of law by nonprofit organizations, law firms, and government agencies to provide legal representation to people, groups, or interests that are historically underrepresented in the legal system. Areas of public interest law include but are not limited to civil rights and liberties, women's rights, children and youth services, immigrant issues, worker rights, employment law, consumer rights, public benefits, gay and lesbian rights, environmental law, and the death penalty." Equal Justice Works, equaljusticeworks.org (accessed July 31, 2006).
Fundraising=Fun!
A primary function of PILF is fundraising, which will provide stipends to students exploring public interest areas of law. Stipend awards will take the form of grants, scholarships, and fellowships.
Great Opportunity!
The community service facet of this organization is geared to get students out into the communities they will service in the future. This exposure is designed to highlight the need for attorneys to be active in the communities they service and to raise the professional standards of the legal profession.
PILF can help you learn more about local, regional and national government and nonprofit employers, and meet many practitioners to build your legal network in town or in other towns.
Maybe you feel like you keep hearing "Network, network, network." PILF's your chance to network in a easy, fun way...and very possibly land the internship/job of your dreams.