In the fall of 1990, USD School of Law proudly announced the establishment of its first endowed faculty chair: The Price Chair in Public Interest Law, thanks to a generous donation from San Diego philanthropists Sol and Helen Price. The holder of the chair is to teach public interest law and direct the Centers for Public Interest Law (CPIL) at the Law School. CPIL founder, Executive Director and Professor, Robert C. Fellmeth, has held the chair since its inception. The endowment also provides funding for the Center’s academic program -- including administrative and publication costs, and the transportation of students to attend the actual meetings of the agencies they respectively monitor. Since then, CPIL has increased its endowment assets and its scope.
The current Centers for Public Interest Law include the Consumer Protection Policy Center (CPPC) teaching about state regulatory agencies and the public interest (Its original focus), and now includes two other centers, the Children's Advocacy Institute (CAI), and the Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC). All three centers have core endowments of $3 to $5 million. Each offers courses in their respective subject areas, as well as clinics for hands-on practical experience in affecting state and federal public policy and including studies/reports, impact litigation, and proposed rules and statutes. Collectively, the Centers have originated over 100 state and federal statutes, 50 major appellate holdings, 20 major studies, and provided advice to executive branch agencies.