Texas Law students are receiving more than $1.1 million from the law school this summer, enabling them to work in coveted public service roles in Texas and across the country. In total, the school is committing $1,146,854 through its Summer Public Service Program.
“The Summer Public Service Program empowers students to pursue meaningful professional experiences with public service employers,” says Nicole Simmons, director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, which oversees the SPSP. “The law school’s support for this work reflects its deep commitment to our students and their professional opportunities and development.”
This is the second consecutive year the law school has committed seven figures to supporting the student demand for summer positions in public service roles, which includes placements in nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and legislative offices. This year, 162 students are participating in the program, including 92 1Ls and 68 2Ls, representing 28.2% of eligible students across the school. That’s up from 24.4% representation last summer. Students are working in 70 nonprofit and 96 government roles, with 108 positions in Texas and 58 outside the state.
Students who secure their roles through the SPSP can receive up to $8,000 for a 10-week position.
The work students do through their summer public service jobs teaches them skills they might not otherwise get and leads to career opportunities they might otherwise not have. The school is committed to “making sure these invaluable opportunities are in fact affordable opportunities,” said Dean Bobby Chesney when he announced the launch of the SPSP last year.
Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the rapid growth of funding and opportunities for public service positions.
“We’re extremely proud of the impact our students are making this summer,” says Simmons. “They are using what they’ve learned at Texas Law to provide much-needed legal services to individuals and organizations across the country.”
Read about students’ 2023 SPSP experience.