To earn a Certificate in Public Interest Law, a student must complete the 86 credit hours required for the Juris Doctor degree and satisfy all JD requirements.
Within the course work required for the JD, a student must complete at least 15 credit hours from the approved list of public interest law courses and complete the Service in Public Interest Law requirement, as listed below.
An applicant must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the Certificate courses. If a student takes more than 15 hours of courses from the approved list, all grades earned in those courses will be factored into the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement for the Certificate.
Previously taught courses, courses offered in other DePaul Colleges, and new courses and seminars that may be added to the curriculum may qualify for the Certificate with approval.
Students may apply for only one Certificate.
For more information, contact Certificate Director for Public Interest Law, Shaye Loughlin.
Foundations of Public Interest Law
Course List (Law) Course | Title | Semester Hours |
| 3 |
LAW 412 | FEDERAL COURTS | |
LAW 477 | FIRST AMENDMENT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION | |
LAW 503 | CIVIL RIGHTS | |
LAW 508 | ADMINISTRATIVE LAW | |
LAW 518 | CRIMINAL PROCEDURE I: INVESTIGATION | |
LAW 521 | LEGISLATION AND STATUTORY INTERPRETATION | |
Students may take the remainder of their courses from the following:
Legal Aid
Course List (Law) Course | Title | Semester Hours |
LAW 202 | EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION | |
LAW 213 | DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICUM | |
LAW 250 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (approved topic) | |
LAW 359 | EMPLOYMENT LAW | |
LAW 363 | RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | |
LAW 367 | ANIMAL LAW | |
LAW 422 | INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 449 | PREDATORY LENDING | |
LAW 487 | HOUSING LAW | |
LAW 497 | CONSUMER PROTECTION | |
LAW 501 | RACE, RACISM AND UNITED STATES LAW | |
LAW 516 | IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY | |
LAW 517 | ASYLUM AND REFUGEE LAW AND POLICY | |
LAW 523 | MISSION-BASED LAWYERING: LEGAL PRACTICE IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | |
LAW 546 | POVERTY LAW | |
LAW 561 | COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | |
LAW 702 | ELDER LAW | |
LAW 716 | DISABILITY LAW | |
Criminal Law
Course List (Law) Course | Title | Semester Hours |
LAW 250 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (Crimmigration: Immigration and Criminal Law; Sexual Trafficking; or other approved topic) | |
LAW 313 | JUVENILE JUSTICE | |
LAW 319 | PROSECUTING & DEFENDING CRIMINAL CASES | |
LAW 363 | RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | |
LAW 410 | EVIDENCE | |
LAW 507 | FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW | |
LAW 513 | INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW | |
LAW 518 | CRIMINAL PROCEDURE I: INVESTIGATION | |
LAW 557 | CRIMINAL PROCEDURE II: ADJUDICATION | |
Civil Rights & Public Policy
Course List (Law) Course | Title | Semester Hours |
LAW 206 | SEX, GENDER, AND THE LAW | |
LAW 232 | CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE & THE LAW | |
LAW 233 | SOCIAL JUSTICE AND JEWISH LEGAL TRADITION | |
LAW 250 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (Critical Race Theory; Feminist Jurisprudence; or other approved topic) | |
LAW 258 | WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 286 | INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PRACTICUM | |
LAW 301 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN LAW (2nd Amendment Culture; Human Rights in Latin America; Reproduction & the Law; other approved topic) | |
LAW 335 | PRIVACY LAW | |
LAW 367 | ANIMAL LAW | |
LAW 371 | LAW & CLIMATE CHANGE | |
LAW 372 | ELECTION LAW | |
LAW 417 | LABOR LAW | |
LAW 422 | INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 444 | ENVIRONMENTAL LAW | |
LAW 487 | HOUSING LAW | |
LAW 501 | RACE, RACISM AND UNITED STATES LAW | |
LAW 502 | HATE CRIME LAW | |
LAW 503 | CIVIL RIGHTS | |
LAW 709 | HEALTH EQUITY AND THE LAW | |
LAW 716 | DISABILITY LAW | |
Service in Public Interest Law
Students must satisfy both of the following experiences:
- One semester in a public service-oriented clinic (Asylum & Immigration, Advanced Asylum & Immigration, Civil Litigation & Health Law, Criminal Appeals, Advanced Criminal Appeals, Croak Community Legal Clinics), field clinic (Civil Rights or Family Law), or extern program (approved placement) and
- 50 hours of service through the Pro Bono Community Service Initiative.
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