About

​Students ​who plan to use their law degree to help others will find a welcoming community at the Center for Public Interest Law (CPIL). From a law student's first day of class until long after our alumni take their first public interest job, CPIL's mission is to support students and lawyers who work in the public interest. We do that by offering students opportunities to learn, to serve and to connect.

Learn:
DePaul's public interest legal writing sections are many law students' first introduction to the nuts and bolts of a public interest legal practice. Students can also explore public interest law from all perspectives through DePaul's wide variety of electives, including clinics taught by experienced, nationally known practitioners. Graduating with a public interest certificate is a credential that signals the depth of your commitment to public interest law.

Serve:
DePaul's commitment service is not just academic. Law students are encouraged to give back whether it's in our own diverse urban neighborhood or an indigenous community. Students can make a difference with their time and talent, their legal expertise and their elbow grease. The Pro Bono and Community Service Initiative matches students with volunteer opportunities, while our summer sch​olarship and Loan Repayment Assistance Program assist students and graduates with the financial realities of practicing public interest law.

Connect:
Public interest law students at DePaul become part of a community that includes our faculty and an enthusiastic and loyal network of alumni throughout Chicago and the nation. Moreover, law students at DePaul make friendships and connections that last a lifetime. Contact​ the CPIL staff for more information about how CPIL can enrich your public interest work or check us out on Facebook!