Our 2026 Grant Application is now live!
Last year, MPILP provided $146,000 to 28 students pursuing unpaid, public interest summer internships. Those students in turn provided over 10,000 hours of legal work supporting underserved and underrepresented communities. We are excited to continue supporting students committed to public interest law this summer!
Looking for the application? Email mpilp.grant@gmail.com to start the application process today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for an MPILP summer grant?
To be considered for a grant, one must be a first year, second year, or third year evening student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Students must intend to continue their studies at Maryland Carey Law and actively be pursuing summer employment from a qualifying employer.
What are the application requirements?
Students must:
1. Attend a grant information session or watch the recording.
2. Complete 6 hours of volunteering.
- At least 3 of these hours must be completed via MPILP canvassing
- Up to 3 hours may be completed through other volunteer opportunities
3. Demonstrate active pursuance of employment with a qualified employer.
4. Complete the grant application.
When is the application due?
The 2026 Application must be emailed to mpilp.grant@gmail.com no later than April 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Late applications will not be considered.
How much is each grant?
As of the 2026 application cycle, full-time grant recipients (those who complete 400 hours of unpaid public interest work at a qualifying employer), will receive $6,000. MPILP also provides part-time grants for those who complete 200 hours of work. Part-time grant recipients will receive $3,000.
Who is a qualifying employer?
Qualifying employers include non-profit or government-sponsored agencies providing direct or policy-based legal services to underserved communities. The grant selection committee gives some preference to work with non-profit employers over government offices.
Do I have to have an unpaid internship already to apply?
No. We understand that public interest employers often have different hiring timelines. We encourage students to begin the application process even if they have not secured summer employment. If you have any concerns about securing qualifying employment, please email mpilp.grant@gmail.com
When will I know if I received a grant?
Students will be notified in mid-to-late April if they received the grant or not. Grant recipients must notify MPILP of their acceptance or denial of the grant in writing within 72 hours of the notification of the award by emailing the signed acceptance letter and completed W-9 form to mpilp.grant@gmail.com. Failure to submit these forms by this deadline creates an assumption that the applicant is rejecting the MPILP grant funding.
How can I complete my other service hours?
Students must complete up to 3 hours of volunteer work that is not with MPILP. While any volunteer opportunity is welcome, we provide some suggested volunteer & community service opportunities here.