The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) is a student-run organization at Lewis & Clark Law School that was founded in 1990. PILP encourages and supports budding attorneys pursuing careers in public interest law. The PILP Auction is our group's largest fundraiser, bringing together the Portland community to raise funds to continue the Summer Award and Loan Repayment Assistance Programs. 

Through the Summer Award Program, PILP supports students doing invaluable work at public interest organizations in Oregon and across the country by providing awards to cover their living expenses. Since its inception, PILP summer awards have helped over 275 students finance more than 100,000 hours of public interest law work at no cost to their employers. This past year, PILP granted 12 summer awards to students working at public interest organizations.

Meet our previous summer award recipients and hosts.

The Loan Repayment Assistance Program allows alumni to work for human rights organizations, Native American tribes, disability rights groups, conservation nonprofits, and other public interest organizations without some of the heavy burden of student loans.

Learn more about the Loan Repayment Assistance Program.