Jerome Greene Hall as seen from Kent Hall on the lower campus.

Public Interest and Public Service Careers

There is no one path to public interest and public service lawyering. Whether you want to work full-time in public interest or government or do meaningful volunteer work while in private practice, the Law School’s Office of Social Justice Initiatives (SJI) makes all such avenues possible.

Join a remarkable community of students, graduates, faculty, and administrators who share an unwavering dedication to the public good and human rights.

Dean Erica Smock of SJI sits at her desk in her office and smiles.

 

“A great chasm exists between the world as it is now and the world as it should be. At SJI, our core mission has always been focused on closing this gap, preparing the next generation of change agents to use their law degrees in the pursuit of social justice.”

Public Interest: Pro Bono Stats and Facts

88%

of the Class of 2021 exceeded Columbia's pro bono requirement.

Learn more.
17

remote spring break pro bono caravans throughout the U.S. and overseas in 2021

35,526

hours of pro bono service performed by Class of 2021 students.

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