Berkeley Law is committed to encouraging students to pursue public interest employment. For more information on public interest recruitment programs, please contact the Associate Director for Public Interest Programs in the Career Development Office (CDO): Melanie Rowen, 510-664-4862.
This fall, over 80 employers will attend the Berkeley Law Public Interest/Public Sector Internship and Career Fair, a “table talk” event co-sponsored by Career Development Office and the Field Placement Program. Public interest and public sector employers are also welcome to participate in the CDO’s on-campus interviewing programs each fall and spring.
Berkeley Law–along with the eight other Northern California law schools and One Justice–also co-sponsors the annual Public Interest/Public Sector Career Day (PI/PS Day). Each year, more than 100 public interest organizations and state and federal government agencies come to PI/PS Day to talk with students and graduates about their work and to interview students and graduates for summer and post-graduate employment opportunities.
Berkeley Law’s CDO also recruits and matches practicing government and public interest attorneys with students through our Public Interest/Social Justice Mentor Program. Each year around 50 first-year students sign up to be matched with practitioners who provide a realistic and practical resource for students. Students visit their mentors at work and learn about the day-to-day life of a public interest lawyer. Mentors are also available to answer career-related questions and to help students meet attorneys in their fields of interest.
Public interest employers, including non-profits, government agencies, and private firms with a public interest mission, are welcome to contact the CDO to learn more about these and other opportunities to connect with our students.