Public Interest Law

Since the beginning of the American experiment, lawyers have responded to the obligation to represent persons suffering from abuse of power. Many lawyers contribute part of their time to such causes, while others devote their entire careers to public interest law.

In Orange County, over one thousand lawyers devote more than 23,000 hours annually of pro bono service to the poor and disenfranchised through the Public Law Center, the area’s primary pro bono program. Thousands of indigent clients benefit from these services, as well as those provided by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, Fair Housing Council of Orange County, and other service organizations.

Since its founding, the Law School has prepared and encouraged its graduates to satisfy their public service obligations. The Law School’s many clinics are devoted to serving, and preparing students to serve, the public. The clinics work closely with groups like the Public Law Center to expand the availability of pro bono services to meet the needs of Southern California’s unrepresented residents.

In addition, through its Externship Program, students have the opportunity to experience first-hand the pressing needs of the poor and victimized. Whittier students provide hundreds of hours of service to the community through placements with public interest law firms, government agencies, and community groups each term. No law school in Southern California supports more externships.

Many members of the law school faculty also devote a substantial number of hours to pro bono service.

If you wish to pursue a public interest practice, full-time or part-time, Whittier offers more than two dozen relevant courses, in addition to its clinics and externship opportunities. To provide further support and encouragement, the Whittier Public Interest Law Foundation provides students with summer grants to work at agencies and firms serving the community and a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist graduates serving in public interest positions.

	Public Interest Courses
	Advanced Environmental Law Advanced Torts American Constitutional Convention Animal Rights Bioethics Civil Rights Constitutional Law I & II Constitutional Law Seminar (Privacy) Contemporary Social Problems Disability Law Education Law Elder Law Employment Law Environmental Law Family Law Health Law Immigration and Naturalization Law International Human Rights Seminar Juvenile Justice Juvenile Trial Advocacy Labor Law Legislation Local Government Law Native Americans and the Law Poverty Law Sex Discrimination Law Special Education Law Street Law