A judge in a black robe standing beside a person in a suit inside a courtroom.

(Left to right) Hon. Susan M. Eagan ’96, Erie County Court, with her summer intern, Phillip Heard ’27.

Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program

Delivering access to justice while preparing students to become excellent, ethical, and engaged lawyers.

Our Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program supports students completing meaningful public‑interest internships while expanding access to justice in underserved communities. Each summer, donor support allows selected students with strong academic records and a commitment to public service to receive stipends ranging from $1,500 to $4,500. Funding supports 8‑week, full‑time placements at nonprofits, government agencies, or other public‑interest organizations.

2025 Summer Fellows
“Advocacy is a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and I am grateful for the opportunity to get my foot in the door. ... On behalf of my team and my clients I can unequivocally say this opportunity has made a difference in so many lives.”
2/27/26

Emily Applegate ’27

“My experience at the Federal Courts this summer has been truly invaluable, and it would have been significantly more difficult to fully take advantage of it without your support. ... Your support allowed me to fully embrace this opportunity, focus on the work, and discover just how meaningful this path can be.”
2/27/26

Andrew Atkinson '27

“This experience has reinforced my belief that there is a need for willing and qualified tax attorneys to step in to offer guidance.”
2/27/26

Michael Barry '26

“Pursuing a public service career offered me opportunities to contribute to society and protect the rights of individuals.”
2/27/26

David Belkin '27

“Legal work can be a powerful force of healing and restoration when it centers the humanity of those we serve.”
2/27/26

Kayla Brooks ’27

“The lasting impact of the work, the mentorship of the office, and the intricacies of criminal law have had a profound impact on me and my future in the legal field.”
2/27/26

Alysyn Colangelo ’26

“This internship has provided me with valuable insight, in and out of the courtroom, that will continue to influence my legal career for years to come.”
2/27/26

Brooke Conly ’27

“Not only did this fellowship enable me to dedicate my summer to a non-profit organization, it allowed me to explore an area of the law that is new to me and to further my passion for advocacy of underrepresented individuals.”
2/27/26

Isabella DeFeo ’27

“My biggest goal has been to live and work in New York City, and through the support of this fellowship I was able to fully immerse myself in my role at the Eastern District of New York without worrying about the financial strain that came with the opportunity.  I am deeply thankful for your generosity in helping me make my goal a reality!”
2/27/26

Josette Fleming ’27

“I would like to thank Douglas and Grace Dimitroff for making it possible for me to work in this role this summer.  If not for their help, I likely would not have been able to take on this position and gain the insight and experiences that I have thus far. ”
2/27/26

Brian Gleason ’27

“Being able to do this internship without having to worry about taking a second job  allowed me to put complete focus on learning about the court system, and being a good attorney. ... This fellowship allowed me to complete a judicial internship as well as fit in some extra experience with the Legal Aid Bureau giving me options that will make a huge difference in my career.”
2/27/26

Phillip Heard ’27

“Thanks to this fellowship, I was able to devote my full attention to helping those less privileged than I while improving essential legal skills, including research, writing, and client communication.”
2/27/26

Maddy Henning ’27

“Over this summer, I have not only been able to survive, but also to thrive in the experience I have been granted. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to be able to work with our great public servants, and none of it would have been possible without [this Fellowship].”
2/27/26

Nicholas Kent ’27

“Because of this experience, I have been able to narrow my career focus to that of a litigator and will be able to expand the scope of my legal employment as a result.”
2/27/26

Ian Klenk ’27

“Your investment in students like me truly makes a difference—not only in our individual paths, but in the broader mission of building a more just and equitable legal system.”
2/27/26

Mary Lemak ’27

“As a first-generation college graduate and law student, I face real financial challenges, and your generosity helped me support myself and took an opportunity that many students like me cannot afford. Experiences like this can shape careers and inspire a lifelong commitment to public service.”
3/2/26

Melanie March ’26

“I am incredibly grateful to those who make this fellowship possible and who continue to invest in students like me who are eager to use the law for the public good.”
3/2/26

Grace Martone ’27

“This fellowship allowed me to spend the summer learning and developing as a law student without having to worry about my finances. In other words, I could be all-in without having to take an additional job that would compromise my focus.”
2/27/26

Allie Mast ’27

“I would like to sincerely thank all of the donors to the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP) who made this internship possible for me. ... Your support made this experience accessible, and I'm truly appreciative of the investment you've made in my education and future.”
2/27/26

Madelyn McCormack ’27

“I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to the donors of the Dean's Advisory Council Fellowship for making my internship experience possible. Your support allowed me to fully engage in this opportunity, gaining invaluable insight into the legal system while developing both personally and professionally.”
3/2/26

Jennifer McKnight ’27

“This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to a career in public defense. Your support gave me more than an internship it gave me purpose, perspective, and the tools to begin building the kind of lawyer I hope to be.”
2/27/26

Boris Melikhov ’27

“Without your generous support, it would be much more difficult to pay my expenses and I would not have been able to put as much effort into public interest law as I have. This internship was invaluable, and I look forward to continuing a career in public service.”
2/27/26

Zachary Miller '26

“I was already convinced of the profound consequence of courtroom attorneys. Now I am convinced it is my calling to be one.”
2/27/26

Brian Murphy ’27

“This internship deepened my commitment to justice and gave me hands-on experience I'll carry forward in my legal career. I'm incredibly grateful, your contributions truly made this possible.”
3/2/26

James Z. Murphy ’27

“Because of this fellowship, I was able to spend my summer fully immersed in public interest work, representing vulnerable clients in court and advocating for their safety and dignity.”
3/2/26

Anna Northrup ’27

“Because of this fellowship, I was able to determine what kind of lawyer I want to be, and further my pursuit in advocating for those who may not be able to afford representation otherwise. I have learned a great deal, and each day I learn new information about the law and how to be a great lawyer.”
2/27/26

Jenna Peinkofer ’27

“Because of this fellowship, I was able to determine what kind of lawyer I want to be, and further my pursuit in advocating for those who may not be able to afford representation otherwise. I have learned a great deal, and each day I learn new information about the law and how to be a great lawyer.”
2/27/26

Maria Sansone’27

“My internship at the District Attorney's Office was an extremely valuable experience, and the BPILP Fellowship enabled me to work at this internship without suffering any adverse financial effects.”
2/27/26

John Tipton ’27

“Throughout the course of my internship I learned so much about the US immigration process that I would not have been able to learn elsewhere. This hands-on experience has helped me gain confidence in my legal skills which will carry over into my coursework and future legal work.”
2/27/26

Taylor Tyburski ’27

“This experience has helped me shape my goals and allowed me to use the skills I am developing in law school to contribute to the public good. This experience would not have been possible for me had it not been for this fellowship and I am extremely grateful.”
3/2/26

James Wiesmore ’27

“Environmental law and wildlife advocacy have been passions of mine for many years, and I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to turn that passion into real-world impact.”
2/27/26

Anna Willis ’27

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View all of our 2025 Summer Fellows  Click to view all of our 2025 Summer Fellows.
Available Fellowships External Fellowships FAQs

Non-UB Hosted Fellowships

Below are just a few national fellowship opportunities available to law students. Visit the Career Services Office’s LOCK to search for even more fellowship opportunities.

American Civil Liberties Union Legal Fellowships

  • For more information, and application materials, visit ACLU Careers.

Echoing Green Fellowship

  • For more information, and application materials, visit Echoing Green.

Equal Justice Works Fellowships

  • Applications are due in September of your third year and are available starting in July.
  • For more detailed information, and application materials, please visit Equali Justice Works.

Greenlining Institute Fellowship

  • For more information, and application materials, visit Greenlining.

Juvenile Law Center Zubrow Fellowship

Presidential Management Fellows Program

Skadden Fellowship Foundation

Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship

U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General's Honors Program

Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program