The University of Alabama School of Law offers a specialized Certificate in Public Interest Law that allows students to focus their academic work in the field of public interest. To earn the Certificate, students must complete: Public Interest Lawyering (LAW 821); Poverty Law (LAW 769); a three- or four-hour Law School clinic; 50 hours of (legal or non-legal) community service; and at least 12 hours of coursework from the courses listed below:
Please note that only externship placements in Non-Profit and (non-judicial) Government Offices will count toward the 12-hour elective requirement for the Certificate. Students who believe that a particular judicial externship will relate to the kind of public interest practice the student wishes to pursue may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for approval. In addition, no more than a total of five credit hours of externships may count toward the 12-hour elective requirement for the Certificate.
Please also note that one three- or four-hour clinic is required to obtain the Certificate. For students who take additional clinics, up to four additional clinical hours may be counted toward the Certificate elective requirement.
Students who wish to count courses not designated toward satisfying the elective coursework requirement for the Certificate may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The petition shall explain how the particular course relates to the public interest law practice the student wishes to pursue.
