King Hall Makes Strong Commitment to Public Service Summer Funding

UC Davis School of Law is now accepting summer funding applications for students who have secured summer positions in the public service sector.

Most government and non-profit summer positions are unpaid. Every year, approximately 100 UC Davis law students receive funding to support this important work. The summer funding for first and second-year law students gives them the opportunity to consider public interest. It helps “diversify who can take those positions,” said Associate Director for Career Services Sofia Parino.

Fellowships are awarded to students who have demonstrated commitment to public service legal careers.

Briana Cravanas ’23 received financial support from the law school both summers. During her 2L summer, King Hall provided funding for Cravanas to work with the ACLU of Northern California.

The fellowship “exposed me to the work that I ended up wanting to pursue after law school,” Cravanas said. She gained knowledge about what working in public interest entails and secured a full-time position with the ACLU of Northern California after graduation. She now implements policies that address harmful police practices.

Public interest fellowships give students the opportunity to practice law they are passionate about. Andrea Reyes Corena ’22 received summer funding as a John Paul Stevens Fellow and worked with the Immigration Representation Project at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office. As an immigrant herself, she appreciated the opportunity to “use the law to impact people’s lives,” she said.

Reyes Corena said because of her dedication to public interest she was a competitive applicant after graduating from King Hall. Post-graduation she received the prestigious Skadden Fellowship to work for Dolores Street Community Services of San Francisco. She currently provides immigration legal services to undocumented immigrant workers.

“Many of us make significant financial sacrifices to take these jobs, but we do so because we genuinely care about the work,” she said.

Students engaging in public service summer work can apply for the following opportunities through a single application: Public Service Summer Grant, John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowships and King Hall Legal Foundation (KHLF) Fellowships

Currently enrolled students may apply for summer funding here through April 1.  

If you have any questions, please contact Sofia Parino, Associate Director for Career Services, at [email protected] or 530-752-5135.