Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program

The first summer job during law school is often a student's entry into the professional legal community, where they can build skills and explore potential career options. Some of the most impactful summer experiences include prestigious clerkships with members of the judiciary or opportunities to advocate for justice at non-profit organizations - positions that are typically unpaid.

The Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program supports law students with financial need and a passion to serve the public. Our goal is to ensure that all law students interested in an unpaid summer position can receive a jump-start on their legal careers and position themselves for success. The students chosen for fellowships have demonstrated a commitment to access to justice issues. Fellowships are available thanks to generous donations, allowing our students to work in the public interest while receiving a stipend to offset their living expenses.

The experiences gained through this program are invaluable to our students and their future careers, and have a positive impact on our community. 

"Interning for a judge has opened my eyes to the court system and has given me vital skills that I will take with me moving forward in my legal career. I had the opportunity to observe court hearings and sentencings, research a variety of legal matters, as well as draft motions, bench briefs, and opinions." - Sydney Brason ’24, recipient of the School of Law Public Interest Fellowship.

Please consider supporting this transformative initiative with a donation towards this summer’s fellowship program.

If you are interested in creating a permanent source of funding with the school through a named fellowship, please reach out to Vice Dean Karen Kaczmarski at krkacz@buffalo.edu or 716-645-6429.