Summer Grants

Each year several summer grants are awarded to students who are taking unpaid or low-paying summer public interest and public sector jobs.  Funding for these grants comes from several sources. 

In 2008, over $149,000 was awarded to students from law school and student raised funds.   56 first and second year students received funding; 40 of those students received $3,000 or more.  Grant recipients worked in nonprofit organizations, legal aid offices, state and federal government agencies, public defender offices, and district attorneys offices across ten states and even internationally.

Documents

Available Grants

  • C-PILO (Carolina Public Interest Law Association) 
  • IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts) 
    • UNC School of Law applies for funds each year from the North Carolina IOLTA program to fund summer jobs for students. Five $3000 grants are available in 2008. Only certain pre-approved placements qualify for IOLTA funding.
  • Ilene Nelson Internship for Child Advocacy
  • Steven Whitesell Memorial Fund Grant (preference given to a student in the City and Regional Planning program)
  • Hank Tersegno Public Interest Summer Grant (preference given to a student whose work focuses on civil liberties, civil rights, discrimination, housing, women's rights and worker's rights)
  • Sandra Johnson Public Interest Summer Grant 
  • Class of 2001 Public Interest Summer Grant
  • Gene R. Nichol Public Interest Law Fund
  • The Dan Pollit Fellowship (preference given to a student who works with an organization promoting civil liberties)
  • William E. Underwood, Jr., Public Interest Fellowship (preference given to a student working with the Council for Children's Rights)
  • UNC Law Summer Public Interest Grant (anonymous donor)
  • Gibson Desaulniers Smith Public Interest Award
  • The Elias Novinsky Grant (preference given to a student working on immigrant advocacy issues
  • Various student organizations also award partial grants
    • Domestic Violence Advocacy Program
    • Asian American Law Students Association
    • Death Penalty Project 
    • Environmental Law Project

Other Summer Funding Sources

There are several outside summer funding sources available.