Jamie Newton '27
Staff Editor
On the afternoon of Monday, September 10, the Program in Law and Public Service (LPS) crowded Caplin Pavilion with prospective first- and second-year fellows to decorate cupcakes, learn about LPS, and connect with current LPS fellows. Students iced their cupcakes with their choice of frosting and sprinkle variety—the classic take of chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles seemed to be exceedingly sought-after—as LPS Director and Professor Annie Kim ’99 discussed the many components of this tailored curriculum and “hub” for students interested in a career in public service.
In 2009, President Jim Ryan ’92, then a professor at the Law School, created the Program in Law and Public Service to better prepare and support the minority of students at the Law School seeking public service careers in law. LPS offers special classes and curricular requirements, opportunities for faculty mentorship, academic advising, an outline bank, and more.
In the past fifteen years, the Program has expanded in size and capacity. In 2023, a total of 130 law students were LPS fellows, forty-five of them 1Ls. The 2023 cohort was the largest ever in LPS’s history, in addition to a record number of applicants. Currently, the program boasts around 400 alumni working in and adjacent to the public sector as resources for support and networking. Given that every seat in Caplin Pavilion was filled, and the cupcake supply was quickly demolished, interest in the program continues to thrive for the foreseeable future.
One of the most emphasized components of LPS during this information session was the vital role core faculty play in advising and guiding students in the public service journey. While other professors working and researching in fields directly involved with or adjacent to public service are available for support, LPS hosts four “core faculty members”: Professors Kim, Andy Block, Chinh Le ’00, and Josh Bowers. These four professors assist in teaching the required spring semester course for new 1L fellows, supervise a recommended 3L capstone course, host a faculty dinner series, and provide all-around support to the LPS fellows.
Professor Kim highlighted that LPS gives public service students, often isolated by the experiences and interests of their private sector peers, “your cohort, your tribe.” To access the niche support system and community of faculty and peers offered by LPS, fellows must complete a series of requirements. Apart from the spring semester course for new 1L fellows, students must work at least one full summer in public service (excluding judicial internships) after their first or second year of law school, take at least one clinic or do one externship, enroll in ten broadly defined credits that support a student’s specific public service aspirations, and write a substantial research paper related to those aspirations. Given the latitude fellows have in pursuing their interests, it was noted that these requirements are only natural stepping stones any student in public service would likely take during their law school career.
Both 1Ls and 2Ls with intentions of working in public service are invited to apply. Professor Kim and LPS Outreach Chair Carter Farnsworth ’26 recommended applicants talk honestly about their intentions after graduation, as the program exists primarily for those planning to start their public service careers directly out of law school. They stress this as an important factor for Professor Kim and other faculty in evaluating applications, especially during a competitive cycle such as last year’s. Aside from post-graduation plans, students should not stress if they don’t have a resume jam-packed with previous experience in public service. Students aren’t selected based on their specific interests or niche aspirations; they need only provide “something” to demonstrate a general interest in public service, whether that be newly found or long-established.
To apply, students must submit a resume, an unofficial copy of their undergraduate transcript if they’re a 1L or law school transcript if they’re a 2L, and a list of two references “who know you well.” In addition, students should write two 400-word responses to questions regarding their passions and any expected hurdles or stressful factors in pursuing a public service career. After applying, students will have a quick meeting with Professor Kim to discuss their interest in LPS and foreseeable contributions to the community. Professor Kim stressed that the application and interview are relatively informal and low-stakes. Farnsworth advised students not to “select out” because of the application requirement.
After outlining the application process and makeup of the Program, Professor Kim turned it over to current fellows to mingle with prospective students. By this point, the cupcakes were gone, but conversation was still lively. Fellows spoke to their various interests in public service, the paths they took to finding those interests, and how LPS has played an integral role in uplifting and honing their passions. Many of the current fellows expressed a sentimental appreciation for the community LPS has provided them. Cheryl Bond ’25 remarked, “I get to have friends in the same boat.” At a law school with seemingly infinite resources for those looking to pursue careers in the private sector, these fellows credited LPS with affording them a safe space for those with interests outside of the norm.
Students interested in applying to the Program in Law and Public Service should submit their applications to Professor Kim by October 18. More information is available on the LPS page online.
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jmn5jgk@virginia.edu