CUMU Conference 2019

The University of Massachusetts School of Law is the only public law school in Massachusetts. It is part of the UMass Dartmouth campus which is located in the Southcoast of Massachusetts. This region is economically challenged as evidenced by unemployment rates twice the state average and educational attainment levels which are among the lowest in the state.

A central theme of the law school's mission is public service. Since 2010 law students have performed over 125,000 hours of pro bono community service valued at over $6 million. The focus on public service has led to both regional and national recognition.

One of the signatures programs at the law school is the Public Interest Law Fellowship Program (PILF) which is designed to train students for careers in public service. The program includes a 50% reduction in tuition and fees in exchange for a commitment to practice public interest law for 4 years upon graduation. In addition to the post-graduation employment requirement, students are required to attend 50 events focused on public policy topics and to perform 200 hours of pro bono community service. Students are placed in over 100 locations throughout the region. Throughout their entire law school experience, PILF students are at the front line of public service and these experiences are reflected in the career paths chosen upon graduation. This program is the ultimate "win/win" - volunteer experiences educate students, form engaged citizens, and provide much needed assistance to the local community.