Forefront

Walking the Walk

Supporting students who want to do public service work is pivotal to Berkeley Law’s public mission. Toward that end, the school has greatly increased expenditures to fuel these efforts, spending about $1.8 million more in 2021 than in 2019. Developments include:

Enhanced LRAP

The annual salary threshold to receive full support from our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (vital for many students pursuing public service careers) increased from $70,000 to $80,000. Graduates making $80,000 or less now have no out-of-pocket student loan expenses; graduates making over $80,000 and up to $100,000 can receive partial LRAP support.

Summer Fellowships

  • 2020: Grants for student summer fellowships increased by $1,000
  • 2021: Grants for a second summer of public interest work increased by $500
  • 2022: Grants may be supplemented to bring one’s total summer earnings up to $10,000

Post-Grad Fellowships

Available to students who have shown a dedication to public interest work during law school, but could not secure outside funding. Berkeley Law has funded all graduating students who have applied over the past few years.

Staffing

Over the next two years, the Career Development Office will hire an additional counselor and an additional administrator to help with fellowships as well as public interest/public sector career guidance.

Public Interest Scholars

A newly created program will award up to 10 annual full scholarships to incoming students with a proven commitment to public service who intend to do public interest work after law school.