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Welcome to TPIC

Toll Public Interest Center

The Law School’s approach to legal education has always been anchored in an unwavering commitment to service. Whether it’s through the Gittis Legal Clinics, our comprehensive course offerings, or the pro bono requirement, there are many ways to engage in and learn about public interest lawyering at Penn Carey Law. The Toll Public Interest Center (TPIC) is home to the School’s pro bono requirement and to a diverse array of public interest-focused programs and events. 

The Law School’s Hub for Pro Bono

Our school was among the first in the nation to enact a pro bono requirement. All Penn Carey Law JD students must complete at least 70 hours of eligible pro bono work prior to graduation. In 2000, the Law School was the inaugural recipient of the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publica Award.

Through its oversight of the pro bono program, TPIC has the opportunity to work with all law students. Penn Carey Law offers a broad array of pro bono opportunities that focus on impactful service and professional skill development. In addition to administering the pro bono graduation requirement, TPIC is home to all of the Law School’s public interest programming, including the Toll Public Interest Scholars & Fellows Programs and the Public Interest Experience (PIE).

Launching Public Interest Careers

TPIC collaborates with the Office of Career Strategy to help students successfully launch public interest careers. We counsel students about how to identify their career goals and map a clear route to them. We also educate students about the many ways to be a public interest lawyer by connecting students to practitioners, including alumni, at public interest and government organizations around the country. TPIC also administers the Law School’s post-graduate fellowships.

Uniting the Law School’s Public Interest Community

From the Edward V. Sparer Symposium, to Public Interest Week, to the Public Interest Retreat - and much, much more - TPIC works hard to provide service-minded students with timely, relevant opportunities to build knowledge & skills while also fostering community and furthering conversations about the most important issues of our time.

Through the Public Interest Experience (PIE), all interested students can take part in TPIC’s impressive roster of tailored programming.

To read more about the work that the TPIC Community engages in, we invite you to read our latest edition of Experience Service, our semesterly magazine.

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Tune in to hear a variety of individuals share their unique experiences in the broad field of public interest. 

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