POST-GRADUATE LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS
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| Public Interest Law Union event in Berger Atrium |
Public Interest Low Income Protection Plan (PILIPP)
The ability to repay student loans after graduation is a “make it or break it” issue for students contemplating public interest careers. Students have reported that the quality of our PILIPP has been a determinative factor in selecting Cornell Law School.
Our PILIPP program has no salary cap. Grant levels are determined by a dynamic formula that takes into account the applicant’s salary, annual student loan payments, geographic location, spouse’s income/loan debt, and number of dependants. Current grants range from $570 to over $19,000; the average grant being $7,600.
The endowed “Sarah Betsy Fuller Social Justice Fund”, was made possible by a gift from the late law professor’s family, which funds one PILIPP grant annually.
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Summer Public Interest Fellowships (PIFs)
Every first and second year student who chooses qualifying unpaid public interest or government employment - very broadly defined - receives a PIF. More than 90 PIF grants were awarded for summer 2009. We anticipate an significant increase in demand for PIF grants in summer 2010, and the Law School's commitment to provide PIF grants to all qualifying students remains. Summer 2010 PIF grant will be $1,600 for both 1L and 2L students. Summer grants will total $4,000 for those students who qualify for and receive federal work-study funding.
Public International PIFs
Students taking summer legal internships with overseas government agencies or non-profits are unable to utilize work-study funds. Five $2,400 Public International PIF grants are awarded each year. These grants are coupled with the PIF grants (described above), enabling our overseas interns access to full summer stipends. In recent years the office of the Assistant Dean for Public Service has arranged for special Cornell internships with international NGOs such as The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Labour Organization, and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
