Career Development Office Blog

K&L Gates 2012 Public Interest Fellowship Program

By Career Development Office on August 30th, 2012

The Pittsburgh Foundation and K&L Gates LLP are proud to offer the K&L Gates Public Interest Fellowship Program. The fellowship was established in September 1999 to offer law students the opportunity to assist public service organizations located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each summer, the program awards up to three successful candidates a fellowship that enables them to spend four weeks of their summer working at one of four designated public interest organizations. The following four organizations offer placement opportunities to K&L Gates fellows: 

• Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Provides research, analysis, planning and development to improve the economy and quality of life in Southwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.alleghenyconference.org.
• Education Law Center. Provides free legal assistance and advice to parents, advocates and other professionals on issues of public education. For more information, please visit www.elc-pa.org.
• KidsVoice. Provides legal representation to abused, neglected and other at-risk children. For more information, please visit www.kidsvoice.org.     
• Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Provides legal representation to poor and vulnerable residents of Western Pennsylvania who have financial, landlord-tenant, domestic violence or other legal problems. For more information, please visit www.nlsa.org.

In 2012, each recipient will be paid a stipend of $1,000/week (less applicable taxes) for his/her public interest service. All stipend checks will be made payable to the student and mailed to the organizations at which they will be working. K&L Gates will pay a supplemental salary to any recipient who receives and accepts an offer to spend the remainder of the summer as a K&L Gates summer associate. The supplemental salary and stipend will equal the weekly salary of K&L Gates’ summer associates during the fellowship period. K&L Gates fellows, however, are not required to spend the rest of the summer with K&L Gates.

To be considered for a fellowship award, candidates must complete and submit an application on or before October 5, 2012.

Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of The Pittsburgh Foundation, an Advisory Committee will recommend the fellowship winners based upon academic merit, demonstrated commitment to public service, other information provided through the application process and interviews with finalist candidates. Family members of Advisory Committee members are not eligible for this fellowship. The Pittsburgh Foundation will notify chosen fellowship winners of its decision.

For a copy of the application materials, please visit www.klgates.com, contact the CDO advisor or contact: