2011 PILF Grants

UPDATE 2/27/2011

INFORMATION FOR 2011 PILF GRANT SELECTION PROCESS

USF SCHOOL OF LAW

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The University of San Francisco (“USF”) School of Law Public Interest Law Foundation (“PILF”) summer grants provide funding to USF Law students who work in public interest/public sector jobs during the summer. The total number of grants and amount for each grant is based on the total amount raised by USF PILF through the annual PILF Gala Auction, with funds matched by the law school, and through other fundraising efforts. For the 2011 summer 25 grants will be awarded to students who meet the following requirements and are chosen by the Selection Committee.

The grants are intended for students who are not otherwise getting paid for their work. Students who are receiving other grant funds, work study, an hourly salary in excess of $1,000, or academic credit for their summer work are not eligible for a USF PILF grant.

USF PILF considers all non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies, international agencies that operate as non-profits, and policy groups to be public interest positions. Judicial externships do not qualify unless the externship is with a court’s pro se department. Applicants must work full time for at least ten weeks during the summer to receive funding. Applicants must have a letter of confirmation on the letterhead of their future employer to be considered for a summer grant.  PILF strives to support a diverse group of employers.

PILF grant recipients (“Grantees”) are required to represent the School of Law at the Public Interest Law Program Ceremony (at which they will be honored), the PILF Donate-A-Day event (taking place over the summer) and the Annual PILF Gala Auction (Fall of 2011). Grantees are also required to participate in the solicitation of live auction items over the summer to raise money for future grants.

Grants will be distributed in installments through USF payroll and treated as taxable income.

Selection Criteria

All applicants must be in good academic standing at the time of application and must have satisfied the minimum 3-hour PILF volunteer participation requirement during the current academic year to apply for a grant. This may have been through volunteering at the Auction or other USF PILF related events such as tabling or PILF-sponsored community service events.

In selecting applicants, the USF PILF grant selection committee will consider the following criteria:

1)     proven commitment to USF Law’s PILF (please cite specific examples of participation);

2)     an interest in public interest work and an interest in working with this particular employer;

3)     past public interest experience and contributions;

4)     a connection to community with whom the applicant with work and how their background, experience, and/or qualifications will assist the applicant in working with this community; and

5)     how the summer work might foster a relationship between the greater public interest community, public interest lawyers, PILF, and USF School of Law.

Although not a separate category, spelling, grammar, thoroughness and care in completion of the application will also be taken into account.

Selection Committee

The USF PILF summer grant selection committee is comprised of two USF PILF Student Board members, two former grant recipients, one representative from the Office of Career Planning, one alumna of the law school, one representative from the Public Interest Clearinghouse and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

*NOTE: This information is designed to give students notice of the basic PILF grant selection criteria in advance of the application process; however, the exact selection criteria are subject to change by PILF (although significant change is not anticipated).  The PILF Grant Applications for summer 2011 will be available March 21st. Please contact the PILF co-chairs at chairs@usfpilf.org if you have any further questions.

Download this information in .doc form here: Grant Info Sheet