Frequently Asked Questions About The CSJ Summer Social Justice Grants
- Who is eligible to apply for the Public Interest and Social Justice Law Board Summer Grants?
Any 1L, 2L, or 3L (part time), and returning LLM’s can apply for the grants.
- How does the Law School prioritize allocation of summer grant funds?
The priorities vary by category. Please see the descriptions for each type of grant or fellowship for more detailed information. As a general rule, due to restrictions placed on particular types of grants or fellowships, there is more money available to fund civil work than criminal work.
- What types of positions do the grants fund?
To qualify for a grant, applicants must arrange a full-time summer law position with a qualifying organization. Non-profit organizations with a public service or social justice mission qualify. Government offices that focus on civil public interest work qualify. Students who arrange jobs with a public defender office or a district attorney office qualify for some types of grants, but not for others. Depending on the availability of funds, some judicial placements may also qualify.
- How much are the grants worth?
The amount varies each year based on available funds. In 2024, the grants were about $6,000 each.
- Are the funds received from the grants taxable?
Yes. A grant is considered fellowship income by the IRS. It is not subject to tax withholding and is paid in full to recipients. Santa Clara University does not issue a form 1099---MISC for the tax year to report your Summer Grant as income. You should consider your award notification as your official documentation of the receipt of this funding. Your stipend must be reported on your federal and state tax forms if you are required to file taxes. If you
have questions, please consult a tax advisor about the taxability of Summer Grant funding and refer to IRS Topic 421 regarding scholarships and fellowship stipends.
- How are the grants funded?
The funding comes from a combination of endowment income, gifts from various sources, and other fundraising efforts.
- How many grants are available?
The number of grants available depends on the amount of money raised each year, as well as income earned from various endowment funds. Typically, the school awards a total of 20-25 grants and fellowships each summer.
- How do I find a job that will qualify?
Possible sources of information about summer positions include your professors, the Office of Career Management, and the law school clinics. Many nonprofits and government offices publish the availability of summer positions and the application process for those positions on their websites. Prof. Abriel, Director of the Center, may also be able to help.
- Can I get academic credit for the work experience?
No. Students who expect to receive academic credit for their work are not eligible for grants or fellowships.
- Can I receive this grant and a grant from another organization in the same summer?
Yes, as long as the combined grants do not exceed the amount of the Center’s grant. If you do receive separate funding, the amount of that funding will be deducted from your Center grant.
- Can I receive a grant for more than one summer?
Yes. Students may apply and receive summer grants more than once.
- Can students from other law schools apply for the grants?
No, the grants are limited to Santa Clara Law students.
- What should I do if I am not sure if my job “fits” into the guidelines for the grant?
When in doubt, there is no harm in applying. The application is fairly straightforward. Most students apply and let the grant review committee decide whether the job fits the guidelines. Prof. Abriel is also happy to talk with you about whether your placement fits the guidelines.
- How many hours or weeks of work are required?
You should plan to work full-time, depending on what is considered full-time at your placement), for at least ten weeks.
- Do I have to submit anything upon completion of my summer work?
Yes. You will be required to provide a mid-summer report and an end-of-placement report, in addition to a thank-you note to the person or organization funding your grant. We will provide content requirements for the mid-summer and end-of-placement reports. For any questions about this, contact Prof. Abriel at eabriel@scu.edu.
- Do the hours I work for the grant count toward the Pro Bono awards hours or the Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate hours?
The hours worked under a summer grant do not count towards the Pro Bono Award or the Certificate’s public service hours, since those hours must be worked without pay. However, the hours worked under a summer grant do count towards the practicum requirement for the Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate.
- Do I have to stay in the Bay Area or can I go elsewhere to do the grant work?
You can go anywhere in the world!
- I have interviewed with a potential placement and anticipate an offer for a summer internship soon. The grant deadline is today. What should I do?
You may submit a summer grant application and note on the application that the offer for
summer placement is not yet confirmed. You must provide complete information about the organization in the application. The Law School will first consider grant applications with secured placements. Thereafter, and only if sufficient funds are available, the Law School will consider applications with unconfirmed placements.
- I have interviewed with a potential placement and was advised that they might have a position if I can obtain funding. What should I do?
You may submit a summer grant application and note on the application that the offer for
summer placement is not yet confirmed due to funding contingencies. Discuss with the hiring manager the potential money that is available to you through this grant.
- When are the applications due? How do I apply?
The deadline for all grant applications is 5:00 p.m. on the deadline set out on the Center for Social Justice website. There is one single application form for all the different categories of grants. You may apply for a grant or fellowship from any, some, or all of the grants identified on the CSJ website, using only the single application. Do not submit multiple applications.
- Whom should I contact with additional questions or concerns?
Prof. Evangeline Abriel, at eabriel@scu.edu.