History
PILA began in 1981 as a Student-Funded Fellowships (“SFF”) sub-committee of the Student Bar Association (“SBA”). The first SFF Benefit Auction was held in 1990. In 1997, SFF re-organized into the Public Interest Law Association and broadened its focus from solely fundraising for summer fellowships to general support for students’ public interest activities.
Mission
PILA is a student organization dedicated to the promotion of public interest law at the University of Virginia School of Law. Our activities include:
- sponsoring social and networking opportunities to support students interested in public interest law;
- raising funds, through an annual auction and other fundraisers, for PILA+ grants;
- distributing summer fellowships to support first- and second-year law students working in public sector jobs during the summer.
Want to get involved?
We welcome you to attend our events and be a part of the public interest community at UVA Law! In addition, each fall, PILA selects 1L Representatives to help engage their sections in PILA-sponsored activities.