2023 HPILF SUMMER GRANT
The 2023 HPILF Summer Grant Application will open March 1st!
Since its inception, HPILF has supported students interested in pursuing legal careers that focus on serving the public. The term public interest is broad, but one goal unifies all members of our organization – we work for a more just and equal tomorrow. We believe that a student should not have to sacrifice purpose for pragmatism. Therefore, each year, HPILF provides grants to UC Hastings students participating in summer internships in various fields of public interest law. Our grants have allowed students to work with an array of legal organizations, including those supporting immigrant rights, youth advocacy, the LGBTQ+ community, indigent criminal defendants, low-income senior citizens, victims of crime, and people with disabilities.
Click here to watch the instructional video prior to beginning the application!
There are two parts of the application:
1. General Application:
- If you have not already done so, you must complete the General Application portion of the application.
- Once completed, the system will open up and allow you to complete the HPILF Summer Grant Application.
2. HPILF Summer Grant Application:
- The HPILF Summer Grant Application will be available once you complete and submit the General Application portion.
- You can save and edit this portion of the application by clicking “Save and Edit Later”.
- The system will not allow you to “Submit” your application unless all fields are filled.
- Once started, you can edit and save your application
To get started:
1. Access the HPILF Summer Grant Application here: uchastings.academicworks.com
2. Click the “Sign In” button on the top right hand side.
3. Sign in with your UC Hastings email address/Single Sign On.
What you need to know to apply:
1. The application closes on March 27, 2023, at 11:59 PM. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
2. Your summer employment must be at least 8 weeks full-time (or part-time employment that equates to 8 weeks full-time). A self-certified employer verification will be required.
3. Students working with 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, government agencies, and advocacy or policy groups are generally all eligible to receive the HPILF Grant. The HPILF Grant does not fund students who are pursuing a judicial externship. However, the reviewers may consider applicants who are working for a “self-help center” within a court where the applicant is assisting low income individuals (pro se/pro per) with their cases because they cannot afford an attorney.
4. You must be a UC Hastings first-year or second-year student to apply.
5. HPILF grant is not a guarantee for funding, please review the CDO power point below for other summer funding options.
6. Please review the FAQs below for more information regarding the application process.
HPILF Summer Grant Certification
Terms and Conditions
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Student must be a Hastings 1L or 2L.
- Student must be eligible for financial aid (and give permission to HPILF to verify this).
- If student is applying as a 2L and they received the HPILF grant during their 1L Summer, they must have fulfilled their obligations from the previous year in order to be eligible to apply.
- Student must not receive more than $5,000 total in project related financial assistance, including non-HPILF financial assistance. This does not include wages earned through other employment. If applicants secure other sources of project-related funding (such as other grants, fellowships, or family contributions), they must report such funding to HPILF. If HPILF grant money puts the recipient over the $5,000 cap, the recipient will be expected to return the excess funds.
- Student must have secured summer employment with a public interest organization. In determining which applicants and organizations are eligible for funding, HPILF broadly defines the term "public interest." Students working with 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, government agencies, international organizations, and advocacy or policy groups are all eligible so long as the work has a legal component.
While HPILF strives to award grants to students doing a diverse range of public interest work, it is important to remember that "public interest" means much more than “unpaid.” Accordingly, applicants must articulate how their summer work will serve a community or area in need.
- No funding is available for political campaigns or for-profit enterprises. Generally, judicial externships are also excluded from eligibility. However, certain positions may be considered eligible if it can be shown that the position the student is applying for falls outside the traditional externship role into that of a public interest or public sector position. This is a case-by-case evaluation.
- Student must have some form of attorney supervision. If a supervising attorney is not available through the applicant's employer, the applicant must find a professor or other attorney who is willing to provide supervision throughout the summer. We do not require employer verification letters. Applicants must self-certify that an attorney agrees to supervise them and provide employment details as laid out in the application.
- Student must work full-time for at least 8 weeks, but may combine part time internships.
- Student must complete one full grant application.
- Student must complete an Obligation of five (5) volunteer hours to HPILF. They may complete their Obligation in the following ways: 1) by volunteering their time, in the amount of five (5) hours in the manner and methods offered to them by the HPILF Board, 2) by securing a donation(s) with a value of at least $100 per volunteer hour, or 3) any combination of the first (1) and second (2) option. For example, if Student volunteers four (4) hours soliciting donations for HPILF, and Student secures a $100 donation (either monetary or of a $100 value) their Obligation would be met. The Student has the responsibility to reach out to the HPILF Board to ensure they meet their Obligation.
- Must provide a 200-word description of their summer work by the beginning of the subsequent Fall semester.
Application:
Students' answers should be 1000 words or less:
a) Explain where you will be working this summer and how your work will serve the public interest.
b) Explain why you are interested in public interest work, and specifically, why you would like to work with this employer.
c) Describe your future career plans and how this work will further those goals.
d) Describe experiences that demonstrate your ongoing commitment to public interest work.
Resume:
-HPILF values sustained commitment to public interest much more highly than academic achievement. Our reviewers are accordingly advised to deemphasize the importance of GPA and focus on prior experiences that highlight a demonstrated desire to work in the public interest sector.
1. General Application:
- If you have not already done so, you must complete the General Application portion of the application.
- Once completed, the system will open up and allow you to complete the HPILF Summer Grant Application.
2. HPILF Summer Grant Application:
- The HPILF Summer Grant Application will be available once you complete and submit the General Application portion.
- You can save and edit this portion of the application by clicking “Save and Edit Later”.
- The system will not allow you to “Submit” your application unless all fields are filled.
- Once started, you can edit and save your application
To get started:
1. Access the HPILF Summer Grant Application here: uchastings.academicworks.com
2. Click the “Sign In” button on the top right hand side.
3. Sign in with your UC Hastings email address/Single Sign On.
What you need to know to apply:
1. The application closes on March 27, 2023, at 11:59 PM. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
2. Your summer employment must be at least 8 weeks full-time (or part-time employment that equates to 8 weeks full-time). A self-certified employer verification will be required.
3. Students working with 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, government agencies, and advocacy or policy groups are generally all eligible to receive the HPILF Grant. The HPILF Grant does not fund students who are pursuing a judicial externship. However, the reviewers may consider applicants who are working for a “self-help center” within a court where the applicant is assisting low income individuals (pro se/pro per) with their cases because they cannot afford an attorney.
4. You must be a UC Hastings first-year or second-year student to apply.
5. HPILF grant is not a guarantee for funding, please review the CDO power point below for other summer funding options.
6. Please review the FAQs below for more information regarding the application process.
HPILF Summer Grant Certification
- I certify that I will be working as an unpaid summer inter.
- I will notify HPILF if I receive any project-related funding outside of the HPILF grant. I understand that failing to disclose outside funds at the time of receiving the grant and/or failing to update an application with outside funds that are later received is a violation of the Honor Code. If I receive outside funding, HPILF will reduce my grant amount to not exceed the $5,000 cap. (Click here for “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)*)
- If it is determined that I qualify for “Targeted Funds,” I authorize the sharing of my application materials with donors of those funds.
- I agree to fulfill the obligations of my grant by committing 5 hours of volunteer work to HPILF during the 2023-2024 school year. I understand that I may complete these hours by volunteering my time or by securing a donation(s) with a value of at least $100 per volunteer hour or a combination of the above two options. If I received the HPILF grant during my 1L Summer, I understand that I must have fulfilled my obligations from the previous year in order to be eligible to apply for the grant as a 2L.
- I certify that the information on this HPILF Summer Grant Certification section is true, and I agree that this serves as my electronic signature which is valid for all purposes as an original signature.
Terms and Conditions
- I am a UC Law SF first year or second year student.
- I am eligible for need-based financial aid.
- I have secured an unpaid internship at a government or non-profit institution for this summer and will work full-time for at least 8 weeks.
- If it is determined that I qualify for “Specific Criteria for Targeted Funds,” I authorize the sharing of my application materials with donors of those funds.
- I understand UC Law SF Financial Aid Office may request a credit report from a national credit bureau to determine credit worthiness and loan disbursements reported to a credit bureau.
- If I receive an HPILF grant and federal/private loans for the summer (as a result of enrollment in summer classes), the Financial Aid office must reduce my summer loans by the amount of the HPILF grant I receive.
- I will be considered for SPIEL loan if I do not receive either (1) HPILF grant, (2) UC Law SF International Summer Stipend, or (3) UC Law SF Summer Scholarship and/or (4) paid employment.
- The Financial Aid office is not part of the HPILF grant process and cannot answer questions about the grant.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Student must be a Hastings 1L or 2L.
- Student must be eligible for financial aid (and give permission to HPILF to verify this).
- If student is applying as a 2L and they received the HPILF grant during their 1L Summer, they must have fulfilled their obligations from the previous year in order to be eligible to apply.
- Student must not receive more than $5,000 total in project related financial assistance, including non-HPILF financial assistance. This does not include wages earned through other employment. If applicants secure other sources of project-related funding (such as other grants, fellowships, or family contributions), they must report such funding to HPILF. If HPILF grant money puts the recipient over the $5,000 cap, the recipient will be expected to return the excess funds.
- Student must have secured summer employment with a public interest organization. In determining which applicants and organizations are eligible for funding, HPILF broadly defines the term "public interest." Students working with 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, government agencies, international organizations, and advocacy or policy groups are all eligible so long as the work has a legal component.
While HPILF strives to award grants to students doing a diverse range of public interest work, it is important to remember that "public interest" means much more than “unpaid.” Accordingly, applicants must articulate how their summer work will serve a community or area in need.
- No funding is available for political campaigns or for-profit enterprises. Generally, judicial externships are also excluded from eligibility. However, certain positions may be considered eligible if it can be shown that the position the student is applying for falls outside the traditional externship role into that of a public interest or public sector position. This is a case-by-case evaluation.
- Student must have some form of attorney supervision. If a supervising attorney is not available through the applicant's employer, the applicant must find a professor or other attorney who is willing to provide supervision throughout the summer. We do not require employer verification letters. Applicants must self-certify that an attorney agrees to supervise them and provide employment details as laid out in the application.
- Student must work full-time for at least 8 weeks, but may combine part time internships.
- Student must complete one full grant application.
- Student must complete an Obligation of five (5) volunteer hours to HPILF. They may complete their Obligation in the following ways: 1) by volunteering their time, in the amount of five (5) hours in the manner and methods offered to them by the HPILF Board, 2) by securing a donation(s) with a value of at least $100 per volunteer hour, or 3) any combination of the first (1) and second (2) option. For example, if Student volunteers four (4) hours soliciting donations for HPILF, and Student secures a $100 donation (either monetary or of a $100 value) their Obligation would be met. The Student has the responsibility to reach out to the HPILF Board to ensure they meet their Obligation.
- Must provide a 200-word description of their summer work by the beginning of the subsequent Fall semester.
Application:
Students' answers should be 1000 words or less:
a) Explain where you will be working this summer and how your work will serve the public interest.
b) Explain why you are interested in public interest work, and specifically, why you would like to work with this employer.
c) Describe your future career plans and how this work will further those goals.
d) Describe experiences that demonstrate your ongoing commitment to public interest work.
Resume:
-HPILF values sustained commitment to public interest much more highly than academic achievement. Our reviewers are accordingly advised to deemphasize the importance of GPA and focus on prior experiences that highlight a demonstrated desire to work in the public interest sector.
| CDO Summer Funding Powerpoint |
