College of Law > Academics > JD Program > JD Certificate Programs > Public Interest Law

Certificate in Public Interest Law

Law

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 Title Semester Hours
Select at least one of the following courses: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 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 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 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:

  1. 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
  2. 50 hours of service through the Pro Bono Community Service Initiative.

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