funding your public interest career

Funding Your Public Interest CareerWhether you plan to dedicate your career to public service or seek to incorporate public service into your professional life, Penn Law supports and encourages public service through our public service program, career counseling services, and funding resources.

For students planning public interest careers, there is a public interest and government career counselor, who holds a JD, in the Offi ce of Career Planning and Professionalism (CP&P) who keeps students informed of job opportunities and fi nding resources for both summer internships and post-graduate employment.

In addition, our fi nancial aid offi ce provides information and insight on all available funding programs to help students plan and most effectively manage their debt.

For students seeking post-graduate fellowships as a gateway to a career in the public sector, the Toll Public Interest Center, CP&P, and a faculty fellowship committee all offer support and assistance through the rigorous application process.

Counseling is offered to alumni seeking public interest work. In addition, alumni working in law-related public interest benefi t from our generous loan repayment assistance program (TollRAP).

Toll Loan Repayment Assistance Program (TollRAP)Many law students and graduates are committed to public service but fi nd it diffi cult to accept public sector employment because of their high law school debt burden. We are committed to promoting the pursuit of public interest and government careers.

We introduce students to public service work through our 70 hour pro bono service requirement for graduation, and we fund most of the fi rst year class and a number of 2Ls for public interest summer employment. We then encourage students to pursue a career in public interest work with our Toll Loan Repayment Assistance Program which offers repayment assistance, on an annual basis, to students working in public sector careers. The amount of assistance is based on a formula that considers the applicant’s income and annual law school debt.

We have been fortunate to have been able to improve our program in recent years. In 2009, Dean Fitts approved a plan that made the following signifi cant improvements:

1. The income eligibility formula was increased to better serve more Penn Law graduates. The new formula allows graduates at a variety of income levels to choose public sector employment and still pay their substantial law school debts.

WHEN YOU ARE A WHEN YOU ARE A

Penn Law’s commitment to funding public service starts with a goal to fund all students working in public interest during the summer. In recent years we have been able to meet this goal. Students work with CP&P to fi nd the right program that meets their objectives:

Summer Public Interest Internship Funding OpportunitiesPenn Law’s Summer Public Interest Internship Funding Program, one of the nation’s largest, provides funding to well over 100 students annually for public interest work in government, legal services, non-profi t organizations, and public interest law fi rms. The public interest funding program brings together a variety of resources, providing a summer stipend to virtually all eligible students.

Equal Justice Foundation (EJF): The entire Penn Law community supports our public interest students through the EJF. This student group organizes various fundraising activities throughout the year; the main event is its annual Equal Justice Foundation Auction, a lively evening event that brings students, faculty, staff, and alumni together in the spirit of generosity. Last year’s auction raised almost $60,000.

Sparer Summer Fellowship Program: The Toll Center’s pioneering Edward V. Sparer Summer Fellowship Program enables up to 10 students to work with Philadelphia’s leading civil legal services organizations. Following their summer experience, students enroll in a seminar in which they conduct academic research on a topic related to their internship.

International Human Rights Summer Fellowships: In response to growing student interest in international public service, Penn Law offers this competitive summer funding program that supports human rights advocacy abroad. Guidance is provided to students to assist them in obtaining meaningful and secure internship opportunities.

Prisoners’ Rights Scholarship: The Zelda Wolfman Fellowship provides a summer stipend to a student pursuing public interest projects related to prisoners’ rights.

Equal Justice America (EJA) Summer Fellowships: As a participating law school, Penn Law offers students the opportunity to apply for a summer fellowship from the EJA if they are working in civil legal services for the poor.

Federal Work-Study Program: Students working in public interest or government organizations for the summer may qualify for federal work-study assistance.

Toll Public Interest Scholars Program Each year, up to six students are selected from the incoming class to receive the Toll Public Interest Scholarship. The Toll Public Interest Scholars Program offers tuition reimbursement, academic training, and practical experience. The program includes a full scholarship for the fi rst year of law school, two-thirds tuition for the second and third years of law school, and summer internship funding for select students who commit to working in public interest upon graduation. This competitive merit scholarship is awarded to students whose outstanding academic achievements are topped only by their demonstrated achievements in public service.

mmitment to funding public service starts with a goal to fund all students

Penn Law student…an Repayment Assistance Program (TollRAP)

Penn Law graduate…

Annual Adjusted Income Expected Annual Contribution to Loan Repayment from Graduate

Up to $45,000 $0

$45,001 to $50,000 20% of amount over $45,000

$50,001 to $55,000 $1,000 + 40% of amount over $50,000

$55,001 and over $3,000 + 60% of amount over $55,000

2. The maximum TollRAP assistance a participant can receive each year was increased to $14,000 per year.

3. Our loan forgiveness structure allows for interest-free forgivable loans in all years of participation. Participants should check with their tax advisors regarding taxability of the forgiveness of these loans. Section 108(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) details the requirements for tax-free forgiveness. Participants who are working for or under the direction of a governmental unit or an organization described in 501(c)(3) of the IRCgenerally will not have this forgiveness added to their gross income.

4. Graduates accepting clerkships before entering qualifying employment may have their Toll Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility extended for the length of their clerkships.

The Toll Loan Repayment Assistance Program’s mission is to give graduates the choice to pursue careers in public interest or government in such positions as public defenders, civil legal aid lawyers, and government lawyers in various state and federal agencies without being hindered by their Law School indebtedness.