About PILP

The Public Interest Law Project was organized by law students in 1990 as a chapter of the National Association of Public Interest Law (NAPIL) - now known as Equal Justice Works. PILP is dedicated to encouraging law students to pursue public interest careers. PILP's primary goals are two-fold:

1. providing summer stipends for students working in public interest law; and
2. establishing a loan repayment program for graduates choosing to pursue careers in the public interest profession.

An annual auction and other fund-raising efforts have allowed PILP to award ten to fifteen stipends per summer. Summer stipend recipients have worked for a variety of organizations, dealing with issues such as children's rights, environmental protection, domestic violence, and civil rights. The maximum amount of the summer stipend was recently increased to $5,000.

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Check out this article about the growing support for LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Programs). More information on the law school's LRAP can be found here.

Lewis & Clark Ranks Third Nationally for Public Interest Law

The National Jurist magazine recently ranked Lewis and Clark Law School as the #3 best school for public interest law. The annual ranking looks at student involvement in the public interest, curricular offerings, and financial factors. Read more about the public interest rankings here. Thanks to all the Lewis and Clark students, faculty, and staff that made this achievement possible. A #3 ranking gives our school something to celebrate as well as something to shoot for in the future: Look out #1!

Congratulations Newly Elected Board Members!

PILP is happy to announce the newest additions to our Executive Board. PILP's Board for the 2009-10 school year is a wonderful mix of returning members and fresh blood. We look forward to a year of strong Public Interest programming and record-breaking fundraising. Lewis & Clark Law School offers a strong public interest law program that supports students and alumni who want to practice public interest law, or serve as a pro bono volunteer. Please click here for the public interest programs and resources available at Lewis & Clark.

Featured Spotlight: What is LRAP, Anyway?

Lewis and Clark Law students are dedicated to serving the public interest. Roughly 7 to 12 percent of each graduating class enters a public interest legal position. The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) enables young lawyers to give back to their community by providing critical assistance in repaying student loans. Learn More. . .

Support PILP with a financial contribution or a donation for our 2009 auction!

Donations can be mailed to us at

Public Interest Law Project, Lewis & Clark Law School, 10015 S.W. Terwilliger Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97219.

For more information, email pilp@lclark.edu or call our office at 503-768-6782.

Donations forms available in MS Word and PDF or by web form. You can make a financial contribution online with a credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard). Please check "Northwestern School of Law," select "Other" and write in "PILP."