Founded in 2000 at the University of Alabama School of Law, the Public Interest Institute was born from a shared vision between students and faculty. For 25 years, the Institute has shown how law can be a powerful force for positive change in our communities.
Our mission remains rooted in three core commitments:
Empowering Future Public Interest Lawyers
We help law students grow through hands-on learning, volunteer work, and career guidance.
Expanding Access
to Justice
We raise awareness of the urgent need for legal aid in rural and underserved Alabama communities.
Building a Culture
of Service
We instill a lifelong commitment to pro bono work and develop future public interest leaders.
Public interest law focuses on legal work that improves the well-being of the public, protects individual rights, and advances access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable groups. It is distinguished by its mission-driven orientation and success is measured by impact on communities, policy reform, and the protection of fundamental rights.
Public interest lawyers typically work in nonprofit organizations, legal aid clinics, public defender offices, or government agencies. Their practice areas span a wide range, including environmental protection, public health, housing rights, criminal defense for indigent clients, civil rights, disability rights, and consumer protection. What unifies these diverse fields is a commitment to using legal expertise as a tool for social change and ensuring that all people, regardless of economic status, have meaningful access to justice.
The Public Interest Institute connects students at The University of Alabama School of Law with these opportunities, supporting the next generation of lawyers dedicated to service across the state of Alabama.
Under the leadership of Assistant Dean Cassandra Adams, the Institute continues to evolve, inspiring every student to incorporate public service into their legal careers. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we remain dedicated to our founding principle: that legal education should not just teach the law but encourage its use to serve others.
Contact Us
Address
Public Interest Institute
The University of Alabama School of Law
Room A113
Box 870382
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487