Become a BPILP Fellow

A representative from the Western New York Law Center speaks to a law student.

A representative from the Western New York Law Center speaks to a law student at our 2017 Career Fair.

Applications for BPILP fellowships are distributed during the spring semester of each year. To receive a fellowship, students must already have an internship secured for the coming summer.

When grading fellowship applications, BPILP involvement (the number of hours you contribute to the organization) is heavily weighted. It is important that students interested in a BPILP fellowship get involved early. BPILP has events throughout the year, and our auction in early March is a great opportunity to volunteer.


  1. Applicants must be first- or second-year students at the University at Buffalo School of Law.
  2. Applicants may work for a legal organization or social agency performing direct legal work in the public interest, such as legal services offices, public defender’s or district attorney’s offices, or any other agency that employs practicing attorneys.
  3. Applicants may work on legal issues at a non-profit agency or organization that directly performs public interest endeavors, but does not necessarily practice law. Examples may include homeless shelters, health centers, veterans support services and similar organizations.
  4. Applicants may work for a government agency so long as their goals and the applicant’s project are consistent with working in the public interest.
  5. BPILP will consider funding proposals for work with organizations, other than those outlined in Nos. 2, 3 and 4 above, that address broad public policy concerns such as public health, poverty, civil rights, criminal prosecution and defense, consumer issues, labor, environment and immigration. Examples include organizations such as the Sierra Club, NOW, NAACP, Public Citizen, individual labor unions and public interest law firms.
  6. Proposals for employment in a political/government campaign or for a political party will not be considered.
  7. Applicants may participate in lobbying in the form of legislative advocacy for populations or concerns detailed in No. 5 above.
  8. BPILP will also consider funding internships with judges if the student can articulate why his/her particular judicial internship serves a public interest.
  9. Past BPILP fellows may not apply for another BPILP fellowship. However, students may apply to any of the non-BPILP funded fellowships being offered.