Columbia Summer Funding (CSF)

How to Qualify for CSF

1. Registration

1Ls must complete the CSF Registration Requirements Checklist by November 29th to be registered for CSF. It is the student's responsibility to make sure they have fulfilled the requirements by the deadline to be registered. Once the registration requirements are completed, students will be added to the Summer Funding Group on CLS Connect.

All 2Ls that opted out of SIP are automatically registered for CSF. Review your group memberships on CLS Connect to ensure you have been registered and added to the Summer Funding Group. Email [email protected] a copy of your resume by November 29th to request to be registered for CSF.

2. Attend CSF 1L Mandatory Sessions

Complete the CSF registration requirements on CLS Connect (1Ls only).

4. Complete the FAFSA
Submit the 2025–2026 FAFSA by January 22nd if you wish to participate in CSF. After your FAFSA is submitted and reviewed, you will see the requirement as complete on your CSF Spring Requirements Checklist on CLS Connect. Please note, it may take 2-3 weeks following the deadline to see this requirement as complete on your checklist. 

The FAFSA uses your 2023 federal tax data (if applicable). Your parent’s data is not required. 

• All U.S. permanent residents and citizens must complete the FAFSA.
• Designate Columbia University (code: 002707) as the recipient school.

5. Secure a qualifying public interest or public service internship.

1. Meet with a PI/PS Office adviser. 
Discuss your plan for finding a job for the summer. You can meet in person or over the phone. Schedule an appointment via Symplicity.

2. Register for the Public Interest Legal Career (PILC) Fair. 
Registration opens November 15 at 9 a.m. EST. Register for the PILC Fair by January 16 at 4:59 p.m. The Fair, held at NYU every February, connects employers and students through interviews for internships and permanent jobs, as well as more informally at information tables. The 2025 fair will be held February 6 and 7. Students will be able to apply to interview with employers as soon as they register. Registration is free. The 2025 Public Interest Legal Career Fair will be conducted virtually.

3. Review job search tools and resources.
These include the Public Interest Job Search Tools, other publications on the PI/PS Office's website, and sites that list jobs (including PSJD and Symplicity).

4. Apply to summer internships.
Apply to 15 to 20 summer jobs. This number can include jobs you apply to interview for at the PILC Fair.

5. Apply to interview at the PILC Fair.
Register and submit applications by 4:59 p.m. EST on January 16. Note: If you want to be able to apply to interview with employers at the PILC Fair, you must be registered by January 16, 2025, at 4:59 p.m.

6. Register for the Mock Interview Program.
Participate in mock interviews with an attorney from a NYC metro area public interest or public service provider to prepare for summer job interviews. You will receive feedback on your interview skills, which will be helpful in preparing for the PILC Fair. Program details will be announced by the PI/PS Office.

Past interviewers have included lawyers from the ACLU, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and the Bronx Defenders.

7. Attend the PILC Fair.
February 6-7, 2025

International students, regardless of their status, are eligible to participate in Columbia Summer Funding (CSF).

Social Security Number
International students who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) must apply for one 30 days prior to their internship start date. For more information, refer to the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) website.

Curricular Practical Training
International students interning for a non-Columbia University entity within the United States, such as a government agency, nonprofit, or judge's chambers, will likely need to complete the Curricular Practical Training Process (CPT). Please meet with the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) as soon as you secure a summer placement to determine your CPT requirements. Students requiring CPT authorization are ineligible to begin work until their CPT is approved. CPT cannot be authorized retroactively, so plan ahead!