Seattle University School of Law, 900 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122

2014 Summer Grant Program Application

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) Summer Grants Program. PILF is a student group dedicated to promoting public interest law. The purpose of the Summer Grant Program (the Program) is to provide funding to Seattle University law students who work in summer public interest jobs that offer little or no pay. Students contact employers themselves, arrange for potential summer positions, and then apply for grants from the Program.

PILF welcomes applications from all currently enrolled Seattle University law students who are interested in public interest summer jobs, provided those applicants be in good academic standing and intend on continuing enrolment at SU Law in the 2014-2015 school year.

PILF defines public interest broadly. Public interest law is an area of law that focuses on the representation and organization of groups and interests currently under-represented in our society. Rather than provide a rigid definition, PILF looks to the individual applications to explain how their summer position will advance the public interest as defined in the preceding sentence, while also meeting the criteria enumerated in the attached material.

The following list of public interest work that would qualify for funding is intended to provide examples rather than to narrow the possibilities: an effort directed at legal assistance for the victims of discrimination based on sex, color, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, language, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status; an effort directed at meeting the civil legal needs of the poor, the disadvantaged, people with disabilities, the homeless, veterans, tenants, and those who have been deprived of their civil or human rights; environmental interest groups; prisoners’ rights projects; international human rights organizations; and consumer advocacy groups.

More information about past PILF Summer Grantees may be found online at:

Please note that all organizations are expected to explain why they cannot financially support an applicant’s summer internship as part of the required “Employer Profile”.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the application or selection process for the Program, please feel free to contact me. I will not be on the selection committee; therefore, the selection process remains anonymous. Best of luck!

Sincerely,

Earl Sullivan

Summer Grants Coordinator

2014 PILF Summer Grant Program Application

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Student Eligibility

  • All currently enrolled 1Ls and 2Ls, as well as 3L evening SU Law students in good standing are eligible for a PILF Summer Grant, provided they continue enrollment with SU Law during the 2014-2015 school year.
  • Grade point average and class rank are not considered in the selection process.
  • Credit bearing work (i.e. externships, independent studies, etc) cannot be funded through PILF grants.
  • Applicants need to have a firm offer from an employer, as well as submit an Employer Profile, at the time the application is due (see below).

Employer Eligibility

  • The potential employer must be able to provide substantive, supervised legal experiences for the applicant.
  • The potential employer must submit an Employer Profile by the April 4th deadline.
  • PILF will not provide funding for political campaigns.
  • Because the Selection Committee (the Committee) generally disfavors work proposals with organizations that have the financial resources to support a law student for the summer from its own funds, the potential employer should be prepared to explain why it is unable to provide a full salary for the applicant.

SELECTION CRITERIA

It is PILF’s goal to provide grants to all qualified, committed applicants. Unfortunately, limited funds prevent the realization of that goal. The Committee will use the following information when making grant decisions.

  • The applicant’s demonstrated commitment and interest in public interest employment.
  • The proposed employer and how well the employer serves the public interest.
  • The applicant’s job/project and how well that job/project furthers the employer’s efforts to achieve the goal of representing under-represented groups or interests.
  • How well the applicant’s proposal will develop his or her legal skills.
  • Frequently, multiple applicants working for the same organization apply for grants. An effort is made to distribute the grants between organizations.
  • Grants will be distributed in an attempt to reflect geographic diversity and a variety of legal aid categories.
  • Any other factor(s) that the Committee deems relevant to the selection.
  • Grade point average and class rank are not considered in the selection process.

HOW TO APPLY

Each applicant must: 1) complete the Application Information Form, 2) answer four short answer essay questions, and 3) complete an Employer Profile Form. You must submit your completed application electronicallyby April 4, 2014.

The application process is anonymous, unless the Selection Committee determines a need to interview candidates. (The Committee consists of three Seattle University School of Law professors and staff.). Final selection of the grant recipients will be announced no later than the end of April 2014.

Because the written application is very important to the Committee and is the primary basis for the decision, CPD is available for individual meetings with students to discuss grant application essays. If you would like assistance in the application process, we encourage you to reach out to CPD as early as possible. For more information about this service, please contact Administrative Assistant, Emily Von Seele at .

APPLICATION

A completed application consists of three parts:

  1. Application Information Form. Submit your application form electronicallyto as a Microsoft Word Document with the title in the format of “Last Name – Application Info Form”.In the body of your email, please include your first and last name and your Seattle U email address.
  1. Personal Statement: Please provide answers questions (a)-(d), answered in that order. The word limit is 250 words per question, for a TOTAL word-count not in excess of 1000 words. Your answers should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides, in 12 point Times New Roman font. Submit your Personal Statement as a Microsoft Word Document to with the title in the format of “Last Name – PS”. In the body of your email, please include your first and last name and your SU email address.

At the top of the first page of your personal statement please indicate the legal aid category into which your organization falls and the geographical region that most describes where your organization is located (i.e., Immigration; Seattle).

a)Please briefly describe the organization for which you will work, the specific work you will be doing (to the best of your ability), and why you want to do this work.

b)How does this position further your current goals? How might this position enhance your ability to achieve your career objectives after law school?

c)How does the position further or advance the goals of PILF? How does the work further the social justice mission at Seattle University School of Law? How will you relate your experience and perspective back to the law school community?

d)The selection panel will be reviewing applications from many qualified individuals who will have great distinctions. What in your background experience qualifies you to receive this grant? What do you perceive as setting you apart from the applicant pool? PILF is committed to attracting candidates who, through their diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, will be able to understand and empower clients and communities. If applicable, you have the option of using this question to provide a brief statement of whether you have or experience certain social rank and status-related characteristics (i.e. age, national origin, disability, gender, ethnicity and race, sexual orientation, social or economic class, religious beliefs and traditions, geographic isolation, level of education (first in college), familial status, linguistic, literacy/illiteracy, indigenous background, political beliefs, etc.).

  1. Employer Profile: Please download the profile and e-mail it to your employer. You are responsible for obtaining the completed form from your employer and submitting it with the rest of your application materials. Submit the Form as a Microsoft Word document to with an electronic signature from your employer. Title format should be “Last Name – EP” In the body of your email, please include your first and last name and your school email address.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The number of grants awarded each year fluctuates depending upon the funding available. The maximum award is provided for full time work (A full-time award is based on a minimum of 350 hours). Any partial salary the applicant receives from the employer or from other sources (including other types of grant awards) may be subtracted from the maximum award. Applicants proposing to work less than full time (but at least 175 hours) will be considered, but the amount of the grant will be reduced to half-time. Grant amounts will not be reduced for receipt of an educational grant or reimbursement.

  • Because PILF wishes to award as many grants as possible, applicants are expected to seek funding from all other sources available, including other grants that may be available.
  • Recipients are required to talk and write about their internship experiences for the benefit of the program and for the education of Seattle University students about opportunities in public interest law, including but not limited to the 2014 PILF Summer Journal Project.
  • Recipients are required to fill out a critique form describing the quality and supervision the employer provided.
  • Recipients are required to provide at least 5 hours of service to PILF the following academic year and to provide assistance with the 2015 PILF Spring Event and Auction.
  • The potential employer must be able to provide substantive, supervised legal experiences for the applicant. Grants will not be awarded for internships that do not promote the development of legal skills, such as photocopying or running errands.
  • Grants must not be used for employer overhead expenses such as rent, telephones, or supplies.
  • Once a grant is received, the recipient must contact his/her employer to request that the employer submit an Acceptance Letter to PILF tothe following address: . The letter should state (a) that the applicant has accepted the offer of employment, (b) the number of weeks and the number of hours per week that the applicant will work, and (c) the name of the applicant’s supervisor.

PILF Summer Grant Applicant Information Form

To ensure objectivity, this form does not have your name on it.

Local Address

Local Phone Number

Permanent Address (if different from above)

Current Year in School Anticipated Graduation Date

Sponsoring Organization

Organization Name

Organization Address

Organization Phone NumberContact Person (Name and Title)

Please checkthe legal aid category into which your organization falls:

Aging/ Elder LawConsumer Protection & DebtCriminal Appeals/Trial

DisabilityEmployment/Farm Worker RightsEnvironmental Justice

Family Law/Domestic ViolenceGovernmentHealth Law

ImmigrationInternational Issues Housing

Native American/Indian LawPublic BenefitsReproductive Justice

VeteransYouth/Education LawGeneral Legal Aid Services Other (please specify)

Please specify the geographical region that most closely describes where your organization is located, or where it does the majority of its work:

Seattle-Tacoma AreaEastern WashingtonPacific Northwest(please specify)

National (please specify) International (please specify)

Is your summer work full time/part time? full-time part-timeunsure

How much will your employer pay for your summer work? $

Have you applied for financial aid for the summer?

Anticipated summer income from other sources (including grants and scholarships): $

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