Law school dean addresses “Obama effect” on public interest law

Robert Klonoff, dean of the law school, spoke with the National Law Journal about how the next administration under President-elect Obama might effect the field of public interest law. Public interest law is the practice of law pursued on behalf of both individuals and causes that are not typically served by the for-profit-bar. Public interest lawyers can serve the public by working for civil legal services organizations, nonprofit organizations, public defense organizations, prosecutors offices, government agencies and lobbying for nonprofit organizations.Lewis & Clark Law School graduates enter public interest careers at a rate that is more than three times the national average. In 2007, the law school had the fifth highest percentage of graduates entering public interest law careers.

National Law Journal The latest ‘Barack effect’: new interest among law students in government, public interest jobs