To earn a Certificate in Public Interest Law, a student must complete the 86 credit hours required for the Juris Doctor degree and satisfy all JD requirements.
Within the course work required for the JD, a student must complete at least 15 credit hours from the approved list of public interest law courses and complete the Service in Public Interest Law requirement, as listed below.
An applicant must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the Certificate courses. If a student takes more than 15 hours of courses from the approved list, all grades earned in those courses will be factored into the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement for the Certificate.
Previously taught courses, courses offered in other DePaul Colleges, and new courses and seminars that may be added to the curriculum may qualify for the Certificate with approval.
Students may apply for only one Certificate.
For more information, contact Certificate Director for Public Interest Law, Shaye Loughlin.
Foundations of Public Interest Law
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| FEDERAL COURTS | ||
| FIRST AMENDMENT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION | ||
| CIVIL RIGHTS | ||
| ADMINISTRATIVE LAW | ||
| CRIMINAL PROCEDURE I: INVESTIGATION | ||
| LEGISLATION AND STATUTORY INTERPRETATION | ||
Students may take the remainder of their courses from the following:
Legal Aid
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION | ||
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICUM | ||
| SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (approved topic) | ||
| EMPLOYMENT LAW | ||
| RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| ANIMAL LAW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| PREDATORY LENDING | ||
| HOUSING LAW | ||
| CONSUMER PROTECTION | ||
| RACE, RACISM AND UNITED STATES LAW | ||
| IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY | ||
| ASYLUM AND REFUGEE LAW AND POLICY | ||
| MISSION-BASED LAWYERING: LEGAL PRACTICE IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | ||
| POVERTY LAW | ||
| COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | ||
| ELDER LAW |
Criminal Law
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (Crimmigration: Immigration and Criminal Law; Sexual Trafficking; or other approved topic) | ||
| JUVENILE JUSTICE | ||
| PROSECUTING & DEFENDING CRIMINAL CASES | ||
| RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| EVIDENCE | ||
| FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW | ||
| CRIMINAL PROCEDURE I: INVESTIGATION | ||
| CRIMINAL PROCEDURE II: ADJUDICATION |
Civil Rights & Public Policy
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SEX, GENDER, AND THE LAW | ||
| CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE & THE LAW | ||
| SOCIAL JUSTICE AND JEWISH LEGAL TRADITION | ||
| SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (Critical Race Theory; Feminist Jurisprudence; or other approved topic) | ||
| WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PRACTICUM | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LAW (2nd Amendment Culture; Human Rights in Latin America; Reproduction & the Law; other approved topic) | ||
| PRIVACY LAW | ||
| ANIMAL LAW | ||
| LAW & CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
| ELECTION LAW | ||
| LABOR LAW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW | ||
| HOUSING LAW | ||
| RACE, RACISM AND UNITED STATES LAW | ||
| HATE CRIME LAW | ||
| CIVIL RIGHTS | ||
| HEALTH EQUITY AND THE LAW |
Service in Public Interest Law
Students must satisfy both of the following experiences:
- One semester in a public service-oriented clinic (Asylum & Immigration, Advanced Asylum & Immigration, Civil Litigation & Health Law, Criminal Appeals, Advanced Criminal Appeals, Croak Community Legal Clinics), field clinic (Civil Rights or Family Law), or extern program (approved placement) and
- 50 hours of service through the Pro Bono Community Service Initiative.