Public Interest Law - RESOURCES

Listed below are a sampleling of resources that can be used to research both the substantive areas of public interest law, and finding public interest job opportunities while in law school.

Career Counseling & Planning

Because your career is such an integral part of your life, and you have invested so much, the Career Services Office believes that it is very important for us to offer our students and alumni ongoing assistance with career planning. The Public Interest Law Coordinator is available to do individual public interest career counseling, give you pointers on your job search, assist with mock interviews, help with networking contacts, and help you research the best employment situation for you. He is also available to review resume's, cover letters, and application materials. To make an appointment with the Coordinator, contact him at lscs@lclark.edu or make an appointment with the Career Services Receptionist.

Career Services Resource Library

The Career Services Office maintains an extensive resource library for our students and alumni. Nearly 500 separate references are available, both in our office and in the law library "career" section (including materials specifically about public interest law). In addition to books and periodicals, there are numerous videos and online podcasts available for review, featuring career panels in a myriad of substantive areas. In addition, the office maintains "in house" resources, such as biographical information on state and local judges. Many of these materials can be checked out.

Northwest Public Service Career Fair

In the Spring, Career Services, in cooperation with ten other area law school, sponsors the Career Fair providing students and graduates the opportunity to meet representatives from 50-60 government agencies and public service organizations in order to learn more about the agency or organization and their work. Participating offices are also invited to interview students and graduates for law clerk or attorney positions. More detailed information is posted on the website in late fall of each year.

The "Green" Book

The Pacific Northwest Directory of Public Interest & Environmental Organizations (aka, the "Green Book") is available in the Career Services Office for pick-up by all Lewis & Clark Law Students. The directory is a comprehensive list of public interest and environmental organizations in Oregon and Washington.

PSLawNet

PSLawNet is a national database of public service employers which allows students to get connected to opportunities (both pro bono and paid) with public interest organizations, government agencies, judges, and private firms with public interest or significant pro bono practices. Lewis & Clark Law School pays to subscribe to PSLawNet, so that our students and alumni have full access to this very helpful database.

Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works(EJW) is a national organization whose mission is to support public interest law students. Lewis & Clark Law School is a paying member of EJW, so our students have access to all the benefits of EJW membership (including applying for EJW stipends and fellowships). For more information check out the Equal Justice Workswebsite.

Internationl Public Interest Work

If you are interested in doing international public interest work check out the newly updated Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities guide. It can be found on PSLawNet, or a pdf version can be downloaded here.