Summer Grant Program

The PLSS Summer Grant Program provides current students with modest grants to help cover their expenses while they volunteer as unpaid summer interns at public interest agencies or firms.

Although the grant is not guaranteed, last year PLSS provided $83,000 in grants to thirty-two of the forty-four students who applied. Grants range from $750 to $3,500 and are calculated according to the number of hours the applicant plans to work and the position that he/she is offered. Last summer, grant recipients interned at offices such as the Sacramento County District Attorney, the Solano County Public Defender, the California Attorney General’s Office, and Sacramento Child Advocates.

To be considered for a PLSS summer grant an applicant must:

  • Be eligible to advance to the next year of study (3Ls and 4Es are not eligible to apply);
  • Have a job offer from a public interest employer before the application deadline (learn more about whether an employer is considered “public interest” here) (read our post about “How to find a Qualifying Internship“);
  • Have had their resume reviewed and approved by a CDO staff member by April 1st*;
  • Not receive academic credit for the summer internship;
  • Have completed at least seven volunteer hours at a PLSS sponsored event and seven community service volunteer hours (learn how to earn your volunteer hours here);
  • Be a dues paying member of PLSS (to pay dues visit the business office or pay at a general meeting); and
  • Not apply to transfer to another law school.

More detailed information about the selection process, application requirements and deadlines, and extended eligibility guidelines can be viewed in our powerpoint presentation here- PLSS Summer Grant Powerpoint