Apply Visit Give
Apply Visit Give
Apply Visit Give
Apply Visit Give

Summer Public Interest Employment Program (SPIEP)

Loyola Law School gives Loyola students the invaluable opportunity to experience public interest work while providing public interest employers with law students' assistance that they otherwise would not be able to afford.  Every summer, the Summer Public Interest Employment Program (SPIEP) supports several students working at local nonprofit agencies, government agencies, and judicial courts. 

SPIEP funding involves federal work-study funding and is not a grant.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline to submit the 2027 SPIEP application, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 FAFSA Forms, and all required documents is Monday, April 12, 2027. 

Applications will open on Monday, March 8, 2027.

APPLY HERE

Eligibility

  • Applicants must have secured a position at a nonprofit, government agency, or judicial court before applying. Employment through a private for-profit, entertainment, or international agency does qualify for funding. 
  • Applicants must not receive any other source of funding for the same hours worked through SPIEP.
    • Note: You cannot receive PILF Summer Funding and SPIEP simultaneously for the same hours worked. Thus, you may only receive PILF Summer Funding and SPIEP if your position extends outside the set dates for SPIEP, OR if you will use up all your SPIEP funds before the end of the SPIEP contract period. 

  • A complete SPIEP application consists of the following and must be submitted in the order listed:

    • 2026-2027 AND 2027-2028 FAFSA online applications
      • When filing the 2027-2028 FAFSA application, ask the LLS Student Financial Services Office if your summer work-study allocation will affect your fall/spring financial aid allocation, and make a decision that is best for you.
      • Applicants currently NOT receiving federal-based aid (Direct Loans or federal work-study) will also need to complete a 2026-2027 AND 2027-2028 FAFSA.
      • Student Financial Services will track FAFSA filing for SPIEP applicants.
    • SPIEP online application.
    • SPIEP Employer Confirmation Form signed by the employer, OR an employer offer letter.
    • After the Public Interest Department has approved your initial application, you will need to apply for a work-study award. More information about how to request the award will be disclosed during the SPIEP mandatory meeting.

  • The Student Financial Services Office establishes the maximum amount a student can earn each summer on a work-study contract. For summer 2026, the maximum is $3,500. The maximum may be lower for students enrolled in summer school and/or not working full-time.  Awarded recipients will be paid by the Law School on an hourly basis at the rate of $19 per hour.  

  • Funding is not guaranteed and will be awarded in order of completed applications. Please apply as soon as possible.

    Please be aware that timely submission of a completed application is not a guarantee that applicants will be employed through the SPIEP program.

    • All awarded SPIEP recipients must attend the mandatory Summer Public Interest Employment Zoom Meeting to review the SPIEP student guidelines and the summer work-study contract packet process. Mandatory individual online training on the designated electronic timesheet system is required to finalize the financial aid/work study application process. All awarded SPIEP recipients will be notified via email to confirm the date of the mandatory meeting.
      • NOTE: SPIEP recipients who do not attend the mandatory Zoom meeting will be denied funding unless absence or future video viewing of the meeting was pre-approved by the Public Interest Department (publicinterestdepartment@lls.edu), due to emergency circumstances.
    • Students must request summer work-study. There are two forms available for requesting summer work-study. Students must complete the corresponding form depending on whether they will be enrolled in at least 2 summer units. The forms can be found on LMU's Financial Aid website for Law Students. Contact the LLS Student Financial Services Office at 213-736-1140 or studentfinancialservices@lls.edu to find out which form corresponds to you.
    • Receiving work-study funding during the summer will affect a student’s loan eligibility for the next academic year if the student is not enrolled in at least 2 summer units.
    • The LMU Financial Aid Office will make the Summer Financial Aid Application available (for loans and work-study) before SPIEP begins. Students should contact Financial Aid at finaid@lmu.edu or 310-338-2753 about the impact of summer work-study earnings on their financial aid award to make an informed decision. Accepting summer work-study does not impact Institutional Scholarships.
    • Awarded recipients who submit a signed contract to LLS Student Financial Services and complete all onboarding tasks via Workday may start working only when this office notifies them via email that their onboarding process is complete. Timesheets will not be enabled until the start date, provided the onboarding process is complete.
    • Hours worked must be entered daily via their electronic timesheet in Workday. Students must print their timesheets to have them signed by their off-campus supervisor on the established bi-weekly timesheet due dates. Students may not exceed their awarded allocation.
    • Awarded applicants will receive funding for work performed during the work period only. Students cannot continue to work and receive SPIEP funding beyond the maximum amount of funding allocated or after the contract has ended. Students may NOT work on holidays or get paid for jury duty.

  • The SPIEP work dates for summer 2026 are Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to Friday, July 10, 2026.

  • Applicants may submit applications for funding to work full-time with only one proposed employer in the category that is selected (either public interest, government service, or judicial). You may not apply for funding in multiple categories. 

    Applicants may not work for more than one employer during the summer.

    Awarded recipients MAY NOT transfer the Summer Public Interest Employment Program (SPIEP) funding to any employer other than the one for which funding is received.

    SPIEP participants may not concurrently work as Research Assistants or Administrative Assistants. The approved funding is for SPIEP only.

  • Students may NOT earn academic credit, such as field placement credit, for work performed and compensated under SPIEP.

  • After the SPIEP contract has ended, students can log the remaining time at the position as pro bono hours. Only work at an approved pro bono organization, usually a nonprofit organization, can receive pro bono credit. Work completed at a government agency or judicial chambers does not qualify for pro bono credit. 

    Please visit the Pro Bono website for more information on qualifying pro bono work and how to submit your hours.