grant application

Any University of Iowa College of Law student who has secured public interest employment (with nonprofits, government entities, or other organizations) for the summer of 2010 is eligible to apply for an Equal Justice Foundation grant.  Students will be selected to receive grants based on the following factors:   

(1) Type of Work: (Whether you have secured public interest employment versus employment in the private sector)
(2) Dedication to public interest, service, and/or volunteerism (e.g., volunteering in the community or law school, past public interest work experience, holding leadership roles in nonprofits, etc.)
(3) Contribution and commitment toward EJF (Hours and commitment to EJF events
(4) Financial Need (Based on overall financial need)

Complete applications must be turned in to Rene Arps (280 BLB) no later than Friday, April 9, 2010, at 4:00PM.  The EJF co-presidents will notify applicants as to whether they have been selected to receive a grant no later than April 23, 2010.  Applicants who are chosen to receive a grant will also be told the amount of their grant at that time. 

Access the 2010 EJF Grant Application Here Please note: this is a word form.  You must have Word 2007 to complete.  Click in the field after each question to answer.  If you have problems with the form or need it in another format, e-mail law-ejf@uiowa.edu.

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 Nicole Driscoll, Nick Kilburg, and D'Arcy Reinhard, as well as 1 other law student, a faculty member and a representative from the Foundation. 

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 calculated 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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