About Us

Since 1977, the University of Michigan Law School's Student Funded Fellowships program (SFF) has provided grants to Michigan Law students who take unpaid or low-paying summer jobs serving the public interest. SFF was founded that year by 5 Michigan Law students who raised enough money to fund 5 grants of roughly $1000 each. In the 29 years since, SFF has provided over 1,000 grants totaling over $2.5 million. Last year SFF awarded grants of $4000 each to over 50 Michigan Law students. Through these substantial distributions, SFF has helped to foster Michigan law students' commitment to important public interest work.

SFF grants improve the quality of the law school experience for students who wish to explore employment in the public sector. Recognizing that future lawyers can play a unique role in effecting change, SFF works to enable students to bring effective advocacy skills to bear on behalf of communities and causes in need throughout the world.

SFF recipients assist and engage the communities they serve by staffing important non-profit and governmental organizations. Most of the organizations that employ an SFF fellow have extremely limited resources, and such organizations benefit greatly from the assistance of a capable legal intern from a top national law school. Our recipients' efforts help to create a support network for those who often have nowhere else to turn for help.

A board of Michigan Law students administers the SFF program by organizing fundraising, setting policy, and allocating grants. SFF relies upon the generosity of Michigan Law students, the Law School's faculty and staff, local and national businesses and law firms, and Michigan alumni to carry out its mission.