Public Interest Websites
For students interested in pursuing a career in public interest, the links below give a good overview of the types of legal aid and public interest organizations that exist in Illinois and beyond.
These websites are a good place to start when looking for a volunteer opportunity to build your resume or a summer internship. Keep in mind that many public interest positions are unpaid. For information on funding, see our Public Interest Funding page.
ILLINOIS PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS
American Civil Liberties Union
Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono
Anti-Defamation League, Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Region
Business & Professional People for the Public Interest
Center for Conflict Resolution
The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice
Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Illinois Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities
John Howard Association of Illinois (working for prison reform)
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation
Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing
Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
Loyola Child & Family Law Clinic
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
National Association of Women Lawyers
National Immigrant Justice Center
National Labor Relations Board
Pro Bono Center for Disability and Elder Law
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
NATIONAL PUBLIC INTEREST WEBSITES
The American Enterprise Institute Legal Center for the Public Interest
Foundation Center
Provides information about every foundation in the country. Much of the information provided is free, but some is only available to paying subscribers. The job corner contains a database of job openings in foundations, corporate grant makers, and other nonprofit organizations.
Electronic Privacy Information Center
Legal Services Corporation
A private, non-profit corporation established by Congress in 1974 to assure equal access to justice. This website features jobs located at the Legal Services Corporation.
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
The "jobs" section of the NLADA website includes positions in civil legal services, defender organizations, public interest law firms, and academia.
Opportunity Knocks
This is a non-profit organization that features classifieds, which can be searched by region or state as well as regional sites. Opportunity Knocks also has job search process information, such as how to write a resume and articles on interviewing.
Law Students for Reproductive Rights
This handbook provides information on legal internships and post-graduate fellowships related to reproductive rights.
National Fair Housing Advocate
This website lists positions with organizations and governmental agencies dealing with fair housing issues.
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC INTEREST WEBSITES
Idealist
Listing of non-profit jobs and internships available locally, nationally, and world wide.
Lawyers without Borders
A global association of lawyers dedicated to the promotion and protection of human justice via pro bono service.
One World
Features positions with organizations protecting th environment, fostering development and assisting with relief-efforts.
PSLawNet - Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities
Guide on International Development: Public Service Careers & Opportunities