Public Interest Law Foundation

About the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF)

• A student-led organization committed to increasing awareness of the rewards, challenges, opportunities, and needs in public interest law.
• Over the past three decades, PILF has created and supported programs that enable students to explore and engage in public interest careers
• These include the law school's Loan Repayment Assistance Program, job shadowing and networking events like the Evening with Equal Justice, and the PILF Summer Grant Program
• PILF also fundraises through its Fall Pledge Drive and its Annual Auction to support the PILF Summer Grant Program (below).

2025 PILF Fundraiser

For the past 31 years, the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) at Seattle University School of Law has raised funds for summer grants to support law students working in unpaid legal internships with organizations serving marginalized communities. These organizations serve immigrants, domestic violence survivors, and those who lack access to justice. Together with your support, we can continue to raise funds to aid of our aspiring young lawyers and the communities they serve.

PILF Summer Grant Program

• Provides grants to Seattle U Law students to fund unpaid summer jobs at nonprofits or public agencies that provide quality legal services to low-income and marginalized communities
• Funded through a variety of sources, including student-initiated fundraising, individual donors, and law firm and institutional partners.
• PILF defines public interest law broadly: it focuses on advocating for marginalized and under-represented individuals, organizations, and communities.
• Apply for a grant: Seattle U Law students interested in public interest summer jobs, provided those applicants are in good academic standing and intend to stay enrolled.
• Learn more information about our 2022 Summer PILF Grant Recipients.
• PILF Summer Grant applications for 2023 will be available on PILF's ConnectSU page in early 2023.