You are in: Home > Academics > JD Program > Concentrations

Academics: JD Program

Concentration: Public Interest Law

Why Public Interest Law?

Students often come to law school looking to serve the public by making positive changes in their own community. USD's renowned legal research advocacy clinics such as the Center for Public Interest Law, Children's Advocacy Institute and Energy Policy Initiatives Center are centers for teaching, research and advocacy. They are nationally recognized for their work in training future public interest lawyers and their integration of students into meaningful advocacy work.

Information about courses in public interest law, experience in public interest law, how to get involved, and spotlight on public interest law.
Courses in Public Interest Law Students can focus their studies with electives that emphasize many areas of public interest law, including consumer protection, children's rights, civil rights and environmental law. JD with Public Interest Law Concentration LLM with Concentration in Environmental Law Full-time, part-time and summer programs	Experience in Public Interest Law Students benefit from USD School of Law's many nationally recognized clinics and centers that provide hands-on legal training while attending law school. Public Interest Law Clinic Child Advocacy Clinic Environmental Law Clinic Immigration Clinic Education & Disability Clinic
Get Involved USD offers many student organizations where you can gather with like-minded colleagues to discuss and debate the latest legal issues related to public interest law. Advocates for Children & Education Environmental Law Society International Human Rights Law Society Pro Bono Legal Advocates Public Interest Law Foundation Center for Education Policy & Law (CEPAL) COMPASS Family Center	Spotlight on Public Interest Led by Price Professor of Public Interest Law, Robert Fellmeth, USD's public interest centers and institutes serve as an academic center of research, learning and advocacy in administrative law; teach direct lawyering skills in public interest law; represent the interests of the disadvantaged or underrepresented in state regulatory proceedings; and attempt to make the regulatory functions of state government more efficient and visible by serving as a public monitor of state agencies. Center for Public Interest Law Child Advocacy Institute Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC)

Information about courses in public interest law, experience in public interest law, how to get involved, and spotlight on public interest law.

Courses in Public Interest Law

Students can focus their studies with electives that emphasize many areas of public interest law, including consumer protection, children's rights, civil rights and environmental law.

Experience in Public Interest Law

Students benefit from USD School of Law's many nationally recognized clinics and centers that provide hands-on legal training while attending law school.

Get Involved

USD offers many student organizations where you can gather with like-minded colleagues to discuss and debate the latest legal issues related to public interest law.

Spotlight on Public Interest

Led by Price Professor of Public Interest Law, Robert Fellmeth, USD's public interest centers and institutes serve as an academic center of research, learning and advocacy in administrative law; teach direct lawyering skills in public interest law; represent the interests of the disadvantaged or underrepresented in state regulatory proceedings; and attempt to make the regulatory functions of state government more efficient and visible by serving as a public monitor of state agencies.

The Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) awards those who have chosen careers in the public interest sector. More information about financial aid and scholarships.