Public Interest Law

 

What is public interest law?

The definition of public interest law is broad, and usually describes work that is underserved by the for-profit bar. Accordingly, public interest law encompasses numerous areas of law, such as criminal law, family law, education, environmental law, and human rights.

Public interest work can include:

• Legal clinics or public interest advocacy groups
• Boards, agencies, or commissions
• Government (federal, provincial, municipal)
• International organizations
• Non-governmental organizations
• Academic careers
• Pro Bono work 

Why pursue a career in public interest law?

There is not just one path for law students to develop professional skills and seek out new challenges. Due to its diverse nature, public interest law can often provide a great deal of freedom for new lawyers to create careers that are more personalized.

How can I start a career in public interest law?

 

Public interest law organizations often do not actively recruit in the same way as firms in the for-profit sector. Because of this, law students interested in public interest law need to actively pursue these opportunities independently and be persistent in their search.

A career in public interest law requires self-motivation and an ability to search out interesting and relevant job opportunities, but can ultimately be very rewarding. 

 
Further Information

For further public interest resources, please refer to the links on the left menu bar of this website for other comprehensive information