Justice for All

Gillis Long Poverty Law Center

For more than 30 years, the College of Law has facilitated representation of low-income people through the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center. Access to civil legal services is transformative for low-income and vulnerable people. This Center was founded to give students and graduates the opportunity to engage in lawyering for those who would not otherwise have access to legal services.

Post-graduate Programs

After graduating from law school, many alumni want to pursue public interest careers. The Gillis Long Poverty Law Center financially supports graduates committed to serving the legal needs of low-income communities.

Graduates for Justice

Gillis Long Social Justice Fellowship

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

Programs for Students

The Gillis Long Poverty Law Center gives Loyola law students opportunities to serve the greater good while supplementing their coursework with real world legal research and practice.

Criminal Justice Summer Intern Program

Civil Summer Intern Program

Fall and Spring Intern Program

Pro Bono Program

Support from Monica and Mark Surprenant

The Monica and Mark Surprenant Graduate Award

Generous additional support for the Fall Gillis Long Social Justice Fellowship.

Learn More

Mark and Monica Surprenant Access to Social Justice Fellowship

Supports social justice internship opportunities for current law students.

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Gillis Long Highlights

Next Gen For Justice

The Gillis Long Poverty Law Center was proud to partner with the Jesuit Social Research Institute and the Loyola student chapter of the National Lawyers Guild to present Next Gen for Justice: Abolishing the Death Penalty. This panel discussion featured death row exoneree, Shareef Cousin, and attorneys working on death penalty cases in Louisiana.

Alex Bellow, J.D. Candidate '24

My summer internship at the Jefferson Parish Public Defender's Office (JPPDO) was transformational. I was given the opportunity to meaningfully participate in a trial, conduct much substantive research, and observe many different procedures in live court settings. This internship allowed the theories we are learning in the classroom to "come alive" for me in actual practice. I am greatly indebted to Gillis Long and the JPPDO for this opportunity.

Renea Pellegrino, J.D. Candidate '24

This internship has reinforced my desire of entering into public interest law. The most rewarding part of this internship has been knowing that the efforts put forth have a direct result on a person's life and access to freedom. I would recommend this internship to anyone who cares to make positive changes within the criminal legal system.

Bonnie Rees, J.D. '23

If you are thinking of applying for Gillis Long I say go for it! That's what I did last summer when I was employed at CrescentCare. You can work hard, learn practical skills in an expansive topical range of civil legal matters, and it's for a good cause. Never stop networking!

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Giving Back.

For more than 30 years, the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center has financially supported law students and alumni committed to public interest.

1,000+

internships funded through the Summer Internship Program.

$4.2 M+

awarded to Gillis Long Summer Interns.

51

Gillis Long Summer Interns in 2023.

$301K

awarded to summer interns in 2023.

Connect with Us

The Gillis Long Poverty Law Center
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
7214 St. Charles Avenue, Box 902
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118

504-861-5762 | cmluwisc@loyno.edu