grant application

Any University of Iowa College of Law student who has secured public interest employment (with nonprofits, governement entitites, or other organizations) for the summer of 2009 is eligible to apply for an Equal Justice Foundation grant.  Students will be selected to receive grants based on the following factors:    

(1) the student's dedication to EJF throughout the 2008-2009 academic year; (2) the student's dedication to public interest, community service and/or volunteerism; (3) the student's financial need; and (4) the nature of the public interest employment secured.

Complete applications must be turned in to Rene Arps (280 BLB) no later than Friday, April 10, 2009, at 4:00PM.  The EJF co-presidents will notify appllicants as to whether they have been selected to receive a grant no later than April 20, 2009.  Applicants who are chosen to receive a grant will also be told the amount of their grant at that time. 

Access the 2008 EJF Grant Application Here

The 2009 Grant Application is now ready. Email law-ejf@uiowa.edu to obtain a copy.

New To EJF!  Externships (internships that receive credit and have a writing requirement) can now receive EJF grants. 

FAQs:

Question: Who makes the decisions about which students get grants?

Answer:  A panel of students and faculty will make the decisions about which students receive grants.  This panel will include EJF co-presidents Lauren Hansen and Jaren Schmitt, as well as 1 other law student, a faculty member and a representative from the Foundation.  The other law students on the panel will be students who have had significant past involvement with EJF and who are not applying for a grant for the summer of 2009.

Question: I am getting externship credit for my job this summer.  Can I still get an EJF grant?

Answer:  Yes.  However, if you are getting externship credit,  EJF can only award grant money sufficient to cover reasonable expenses associated with travel and lodging, not to exceed $2,250.  The EJF grant money will also be calcuclated into the financial aid package you receive from finaid.  So, the figure finaid gives you includes the EJF grant, the grant is not in addition to what you get from finaid.   

Question: Will EJF consider my grades when it chooses grant recipients?

Answer:  No.  Your grades, good or not so good, will not be considered.

Question:  What is the largest/smallest amount of money I might receive?

Answer: The largest grant amount will likely be $3,500, absent unforeseen circumstances that might allow us to give a larger grant.  The smallest amount will be $500.

Question: I have a job at a for-profit law firm that does public interest work.  I am not being paid, or am being paid only minimally.  Can I still get an EJF grant?

Answer:  Yes. However, the nature of the work that your summer employer does, and the nature of the work you are doing for that firm will be closely scrutinized.

Question:  I have an unpaid summer internship with a prosecutor's office.  Can I get an EJF grant?

          Answer:  Yes.  Students working for government entities are eligible to receive EJF grants.

Question:  What if I'm living in a city that is really expensive, such as New York, San Francisco or Chicago?  Can I get a cost of living adjustment through the financial aid office if I have an externship?

          Answer:  Yes.  You have to affirmatively request a cost of living adjustment with the financial aid office, but they will consider the cost of living in another city.  You must be prepared to provide documentation of what the cost of living is in the city.  This can usually be found on a law school's financial aid website in the area.

 

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