UW School of Law > Public Service > Center for Public Service Law

The Center for Public Service Law

The Center for Public Service Law at UW Law aims to educate, empower and inspire all of our students, graduates and broader law school community to incorporate public service into their lives, regardless of where they work or what kind of position they hold.

The Center works to nurture the culture of a service-oriented legal education, career and community as a key component of the UW Law mission to be Leaders for the Global Common Good. To that end, we provide programming, opportunities and connections to help UW Law students and graduates realize this vision of Generous Public Service.

Projects include: 

  • Pro Bono Honors Program: encourages and facilitates pro bono activity by all UW Law students and recognizes students for their efforts
  • Public Service Externship Program: offers the opportunity for public service and experiential learning in fulfillment of the UW Law mandatory public service requirement
  • Moderate Means Program: in partnerships with the Washington State Bar Association and Washington state’s other two law schools, connects moderate income clients in need with attorneys willing to work for reduced fees
  • Gates Public Service Law Program: provides tuition, room and board for five UW Law students each year who commit to practice a minimum of five years in a public service law setting after graduation; presents an annual Public Service Speaker Series
  • Public Interest/Public Service Career Coaching: provide individual coaching and support for students with a career interest in public interest and public service work
  • Judicial Clerkship Program: support students and alumni pursuing judicial clerkships by hosting informational sessions and through individual advising and assistance with the application process
  • Public service law and policy related programming on both substantive and career-focused issues: present workshops, lectures and interactive programs designed to educate our community about public service topics, social justice and career paths focused on service
  • Support for international public service summer fellowships and public service law conferences: offer a selection process for law school-supported international human rights fellowships; administration of limited funds for student attendance at public interest-oriented conferences
  • Loan Repayment Assistance Program: administer funds to help graduates working in public service in Washington State to repay their educational debt

Contact

Michele Storms
Assistant Dean for Public Service Law
(206) 897-1836

Aline Carton Listfjeld
Assistant Director for Public Service Law
(206) 616-9789

Esther Park
Director of Externships
(206) 616-1364

Clay Wilson
Attorney
Moderate Means Program

Ann Spangler
 Administrative Assistant
(206) 616-3753

"The essential, ethical responsibility of lawyers is to promote justice. At our law school, we view public service as a fundamental value that underscores our efforts to increase access to justice and support the rule of law."

Dean Kellye Y. Testy

- Kellye Y. Testy,
Dean and James W. Mifflin University Professor

Last updated 1/4/2013