We define the program broadly to include as many opportunities as possible. Work in federal, state, and local government and with an existing not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status qualifies for SPIF.
SPIF funds are not available for summer judicial clerkships since this opportunity is broadly available to Yale students after graduation without prior clerkship experience. However, 1L students who are non-U.S. citizens are eligible to receive SPIF funding for volunteer summer internships with U.S. federal judges during their 1L summer since they have very few opportunities to clerk after graduation. [NOTE FOR 2025 SUMMER: Given the federal hiring freeze and its impact on student summer plans, YLS has expanded SPIF funding to include volunteer judicial internships for summer 2025 for all 1L and 2L eligible students. All other parameters for receiving SPIF funding remain in place.]
Because of the University’s 501(c)(3) status, SPIF funds are not available for work on political campaigns.
For positions outside the United States, it is impossible to define a precise eligibility standard, but in general, governmental entities and those entities that would be 501(c)(3) organizations if they were located in the United States will qualify.
Other work, such as legal work for unions or public interest law firms, may qualify, but you should not assume that it does absent an affirmative ruling by the Financial Aid Office.
All eligible employers must also comply with the Law School’s Nondiscrimination Policy. For instructions on confirming organization compliance, please see here.
To guide your job search and selection process, you may request an advisory ruling on whether the organization qualifies by giving the Financial Aid Office a description of the organization. Particular positions are eligible provided that the organization does not pay other similarly-situated summer interns and that the work is public interest in nature.
Example 1: Research assistants generally are not eligible for SPIF because most universities pay other research assistants.
Example 2: If Government Agency XYZ has a policy that it will pay summer interns who are 2Ls, but not those who are 1Ls, 1L interns would be eligible for SPIF.
Student Eligibility
Student eligibility for the program is based on demonstrated financial need.
Automatic Eligibility
- Students who are receiving financial aid scholarships from the Law School;
- Students who have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA and have demonstrated financial need. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will calculate the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and if this number is at or below the total cost-of-attendance, a student is eligible to receive SPIF funds (refer to the Student Aid Report (SAR).
Students may receive SPIF funding for two summers. Funding is not available for the summer after graduation.
Joint degree students must be enrolled in the Law School for either the semester before or the semester after the summer fellowship to qualify.
Please Note: If a student does not automatically qualify for summer grant assistance, the student can submit a 2025 SPIF Supplemental Form for further consideration. The student will be notified if they are deemed eligible for funding based on information provided on the SPIF Supplemental Form. In addition, if a student's budget allows, borrowing additional loans can be an option. These loans are eligible to be covered by COAP, our loan forgiveness program, after graduation.
Financing Your Public Interest Summer Internship Information Session held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
