Public Service & Social Justice

A commitment to public service and social justice is an essential part of the mission of the USF School of Law.

The law school offers a rich array of opportunities for students to contribute to building a more humane and just world. Each year hundreds of USF law students participate in academic and community service projects across the Bay Area, throughout the United States, and around the world.

Through the Center for Law and Global Justice, students may secure legal externships in a number of developing countries. The annual Trina Grillo Public Interest and Social Justice Law Retreat provides a foundation for students' public interest ambitions and professional networking opportunities.The Law In Motion service program provides opportunities for students to reflect on social justice issues while serving the community.

The Law Student Pro Bono Project, co-sponsored by USF and OneJustice, matches students with volunteer projects at legal aid agencies, court-based programs, and social service providers. Students who participate in the Keta Taylor Colby Death Penalty Project perform hands-on legal work aimed at the interim reform, and ultimate abolition, of the death penalty in the United States. The Public Interest Law Foundation, a USF student group, provides grants to students working in unpaid summer externship positions with public sector organizations.

In addition, students may earn a Public Interest Law Certificate through a combination of course work, practical experience, and community service.