Public
Service

Public Service at Fordham Law

Fordham Law prepares its students to confront the challenges of our times—to become leaders in the legal profession who will effect real change through principled, ethical lawyering; through active citizenship; and through an unwavering dedication to justice. From student-initiated groups and service-oriented legal centers to specialized academic courses, Fordham Law provides countless avenues for students to pursue public interest and service—and to learn about, practice, and get involved in social justice lawyering.

The hub of all public service activity at Fordham Law is the Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC), which helps organize and inspire more than twenty student-run pro bono, advocacy, and community service groups. For almost 30 years, Fordham Law students have coordinated with PIRC to spend their spring breaks volunteering to provide legal support and other resources to people in need around the world.

The School’s National Center for Access to Justice is dedicated to achieving reform that helps people obtain justice in the courts. The center’s Justice Index uses cutting-edge data analytics to help replicate best practices for access to justice in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Other public service opportunities include the Stein Scholars Program, which offers students a supportive community, extensive mentorship and guidance, unique academic training, and financial support to launch and maintain nonprofit and government careers.

The public interest and service concentration prepares JD students to fight injustice and to help empower and advocate for disenfranchised individuals and communities. In order to relieve some of the debt burden for our graduates who pursue careers in the nonprofit area, Fordham offers the Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

In addition to giving students hands-on work experience in a broad range of legal advocacy, assistance, and community legal education efforts in and outside New York City, all our public service initiatives actively develop solid lawyering skills and familiarize students with the kind of problem solving they will encounter throughout their professional careers.

Students in the Immigration Advocacy Project (IAP), during their service trip to Dilley, Texas. They provided legal assistance to women and children refugees in family detention.