Summer Public Interest Employment Program (SPIEP)

Loyola Law School gives Loyola students the invaluable opportunity to experience public interest work, while providing public interest employers with law students assistance which they otherwise would not be able to afford.  Every summer, the Summer Public Interest Employment Program (SPIEP) supports 70 students (60 in public interest, 10 in government positions) working at local nonprofit and government agencies. In 2016, the Law School approved funding for more than 90 Loyola students.

Every year, the Office of Financial Aid establishes the maximum amount a student can earn each summer on a work-study contract.  For summer 2016, the maximum amount awarded to students was $3,500.  The maximum may be lower for students enrolled in summer school and/or not working full time. 

SPIEP Funding: 

  • SPIEP Funding involves federal work-study funding and is not a grant.
  • Work through a nonprofit or government agency qualifies for SPIEP. Note: Employment through a judicial agency does not qualify for funding.  
  • The receipt of work-study funding during the summer may affect your financial aid allocation for the next academic year. Please consult with financial aid personnel before you submit your completed application to determine the actual impact, if any, of summer work-study funding on your personal situation.
  • All recipients must sign a work-study contract and submit regular timesheets.
  • To assist with estimating the impact of SPIEP earnings on the following year's financial aid award, SPIEP participants who are not enrolled during the Summer term may find Federal tax withholding tables here and CA State tax withholding tables here. Additional guidance and the form to estimate potential impact on your financial aid award is available here under "Summer 2017 Forms." 

Keep in mind also that timely submission of a completed application is not a guarantee that you will be employed through this program.

What is the amount of funding?

The Financial Aid Office establishes the maximum amount a student can earn each summer on a work-study contract.  For summer 2016, the maximum was $3,500.  The maximum may be lower for students enrolled in summer school and/or not working full time.  Awarded recipients will be paid by the Law School on an hourly basis at the rate of $10.50 per hour.  Every year, the Office of Financial Aid sets the dates by which a recipient may begin and end work under the SPIEP work-study contract.

How does the Committee evaluate applications?

The SPIEP Funding Committee evaluates each application on a point scale as follows:

  • One point if the applicant is an upper division student (i.e., has completed the second year day or third year evening or will graduate the following December).
  • Zero to five points for the applicant's personal statement.