Law students that complete fifty (50) total hours of approved public interest work such as charitable work, pro bono work or work in public service such as work in a district attorney’s office during their law school career will be admitted as fellows of the Public Interest Law Society upon graduation. Membership in the Faulkner Law Public Interest Law Society illustrates a law student’s commitment to service. Membership also includes a notation of service on their transcript, special recognition in the graduation program, and eligibility for the Distinguished Public Interest Fellow Award.
Distinctions within the Public Interest Law Society
1. Distinguished Public Interest Award: The member of the Public Interest Law Society that best represents qualities of dedication to service and commitment to community will be honored with this award. The award will be granted based on the recipient’s amount of hours worked in public interest law as well as the variety and scope of their work in public interest law while in law school.
2. Fellows of the Public Interest Law Society that have completed a minimum requirement of hours in a particular service field will be given distinctions in the Public Interest Law Society.
- Merit of Pro Bono Achievement: The law school recognizes the benefits provided to a community when attorneys commit time to provide pro bono services. This distinction is granted to any fellow of the Public Interest Law Society exceeding thirty hours of pro bono work during their law school career.
- Community Service Merit: The law school encourages any kind of service to the community including valuable non-legal work. Faulkner Law students have a long history of giving back to their community through service projects like Habitat for Humanity. This distinction is granted to any fellow of the Public Interest Law Society exceeding thirty hours of non-legal community service work during their law school career.
- Ellen Brooks Merit for Public Service: The law school’s dedication to service along with its award winning advocacy program have created opportunities for Faulkner Law students to intern in a variety of public service positions. Fellows that exceed thirty hours of public service work during their law school career are granted this distinction.