2012-2013
PLSS Summer Grant Program
GUIDE TO THE NEW (AND ELIMINATED)
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLSS SUMMER
GRANT
In order to qualify for the grant you must…
 Be eligible to advance to the next year of study (3Ls and 4Es are not eligible);
 Have completed the PLSS Summer Grant application by the due date, March 27th;
 Have an internship offer from a public interest employer by March 27th (either
through the Internship Assistance Program or through the student’s own solicitation
efforts);
 Not receive academic credit for the summer internship;
 Have completed at least seven hours of volunteer time toward a PLSS event;
 Be a dues paying member of PLSS; and
 Have had your resume reviewed and approved by a member of the CDO staff.
Changes to the Grant Application in 2012/2013
Two significant changes have been made to the
2012/2013 grant application:
 All students to apply for the Grant must have had
their resume’s reviewed and approved by a member
of the CDO staff before the application due date on
March 27th;
 Letters of recommendation are no longer a
requirement of the Grant application.
Internship Assistance Program
Beginning in 2012/2013, we will launch our Internship
Assistance Program. This program is open to all students
who apply for the PLSS Summer Grant.
The Internship Assistance Program is a fantastic resource
for students who have not already secured a placement or
who do not know which public interest agency/firm they
would like to intern at.
Students who decide to utilize this program will be given a
list of employers who have hired or are interested in
hiring summer interns from McGeorge. After the
student’s resume is reviewed and approved by the CDO,
he or she will be given the contact information for the
internship coordinator at the agencies/firms he or she is
interested in and any specific instructions regarding
applying to those particular agencies/firms.
Internship Placement Assistance Program
Requirements
In order to qualify to receive a placement through the Internship
Placement Assistance Program, a student must:
 Have had their resume’s reviewed and approved by a member
of the CDO staff by or before March 1st. (No exceptions will
be made for students who fail to meet this deadline.)
Students who do not have their resume reviewed and approved
by March 1st may still apply to receive the PLSS
Summer Grant as long as he or she has his/her resume
approved by the final grant deadline, March 27th; however, he
or she will have to secure a qualifying internship offer through
his/her own efforts.
Keep in mind…
The PLSS Summer Grant is not guaranteed, nor can we
promise that students will secure an internship offer
through the Internship Placement Assistance
Program.
We do everything in our power to secure our members
qualifying internship offers and financial assistance. We
provide grants to as many applicants as possible and are
dedicated to creating opportunities for students to meet
potential employers.
Students who demonstrate initiative in securing an internship
as well as a history of dedication to public interest causes will
set themselves apart to the application review board.
However…
Last year, PLSS doled out $83,000 in Grant money to
PLSS members.
Of the 44 students who applied in 2012, 32 received grant
money from PLSS. (Only 12 students did not receive the
grant, 4 of which were denied because they received a
substantial grant from another non-profit organization.)
The CDO has agreed to assist the PLSS Board in securing
public interest employers interested in participating in
the Internship Placement Assistance Program. We
project that there will be between 20 and 50 qualifying
employers who are interested in hiring a McGeorge law
student through the program.
Grants
Grants range in amount according the number of
hours that a student projects he or she will work.
The maximum grant amount is $3,500; however,
additional funding for internship-related expenses
such as travel and heightened cost of living may also
be available.
If a student works full-time during the summer, he or
she will qualify for the maximum grant amount.
The Future of the Grant Program
The 20th Annual PLSS Live and Silent Auction (last year)
was a HUGE success. We earned nearly $200,000approximately $150,000 more than we have ever earned
at past auctions.
In 2012, the PLSS Board elected to create an endowment
(the Dean Elizabeth Parker Endowment for Public
Interest Law) in order to secure the financial security of
the PLSS Grant Program for future generations.
With your help in 2013, we can increase our Grant fund to
allow for greater financial assistance for this and next
years student applicants.
Qualifying Public Interest Internships
Generally, any student with an unpaid internship at
the following agency or firm will qualify for the
Grant:
 State or federal agency;
 District Attorney, Public Defender, Attorney General
or Federal Defender’s Office;
 City or County agency
 Non-profit firm
 Free legal services program or clinic (VLSP, LSNC)
 Judicial clerk
Qualifying Public Interest Internships
In addition, an internship in one of the following legal
focuses may qualify for the Grant:
 Civil rights
 Women’s rights
 Environmental Law
 Immigration Law
 Health Law
 Juvenile Law
 Elder rights