Public Interest Employment
Note: For more information on public interest recruitment programs, please contact Linda Maranzana, Associate Director for Public Interest Programs, or call 510-643-2675.
The law school is committed to encouraging students to pursue public interest employment. In the fall, 40 to 60 employers attend the Public Interest/Public Sector Reception and Table Talk session.
Berkeley Law - along with the eight other Northern California law schools and the Public Interest Clearinghouse - co-sponsors the annual Public Interest/Public Sector Legal Careers Day. Typically more than 100 public interest organizations and state and federal government agencies participate in this event to inform students and graduates about the nature of their work and immediate or future employment opportunities. This event provides an excellent opportunity for students to establish contacts with public interest employers in the Bay Area.
The office also recruits and matches practicing government and public interest attorneys with students in its Public Interest/Social Justice Mentor Program. Each year nearly 50 first-year students are matched with practitioners who provide a realistic and practical resource for students. Students attend hearings, depositions and negotiations, and discover what a day in the life of a public interest attorney can involve. Mentors also are available to answer career-related questions and provide networking contacts for students.
