Graduation ceremony with large text: The time for action is now.
Backdrop of a CUNY Law graduation ceremony with large yellow text reading: "The time for action is now."

More Lawyers for
Public Interest

The best way to build a more just world is to invest in those ready to lead the way. CUNY Law students are committed to using the law to advance human rights, fight for equity, and meet urgent community needs.

Each year, our students secure summer internships with leading public interest organizations⏤placements that offer invaluable experience advocating for others. But many of these organizations can’t afford to pay them.

That’s where you come in.

In 2024, 115 applied for public interest summer funding. Yet, we were only able to fund just over half of them. With your support, we can close the gap and ensure that every student who steps up to serve our communities can do so without financial hardship.

Your gift helps these future public interest lawyers while doing the work they came to law school to do: serving those who need them most.

Hear from past
Recipients about the
Impact of Your Support

Student quote: This grant enabled an unpaid internship in public interest law.
Student quote: "This grant allowed me to take an unpaid internship that provided an invaluable learning opportunity I wouldn’t have been able to seize otherwise." —3L Student
Student quote: The grant connected me to legal work across NYC.
Student quote: "Receiving this grant helped me connect with lawyers and organizations across NYC, giving a better understanding of today’s legal landscape." —2L Student
Student quote: Grant enabled summer work on border cases and public defense.
Student quote: "This grant let me take a dream opportunity in San Diego working on border cases, deepening my understanding of immigration law." —3L Student
Student quote: Without this grant, I would’ve worked outside law.
Student quote: "This grant made my internship possible; without it, I would have worked outside the legal field this summer." —2L Student

CUNY Law sends more graduates
into the public sector

Bar chart highlighting CUNY Law’s higher public interest placement than ABA schools.
Bar chart showing CUNY Law sends more graduates into Public Interest (54%), while ABA Law graduates are more often in Government (52%), Judicial Clerkships (9.1%), Private Law Firms (10.4%), and Business & Industry (8.4%).
Circular graphic showing 115 applicants, with 65 funded for public interest summer grants.
Graphic with a dark gray circle labeled 115 and a bright yellow-green inner circle labeled 65, representing that out of 115 student applicants, only 65 received public interest summer funding.

This year, 115 students applied for Public Interest
Summer Funding. We were only able
to support 65.

With your help, we can close that gap–and ensure students
can do this critical work without financial hardship.