Summer Funding

Federal Loans

If you did not borrow the entire amount of your 2025-2026 Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate Plus loans, you may use the funds for summer expenses. Check your award information at MyAwards.

You must request these funds by April 24, 2026.

Public Interest Summer Funding

First and Second year students engaging in public service summer work can be funded through the programs below. Students can apply for each of the following summer funding opportunities by submitting a single application.

  • Public Service Summer Grant
    • UC Davis School of Law will award a limited amount of funding to currently enrolled first and second year students.
    • Grants will fund legal work at nonprofit organizations; legal services organizations; district attorneys'/public defenders' offices; and federal, state, and local government (including executive, legislative, and judicial branches).
    • Internships must be unpaid, full-time, and at least 8 weeks (preferably 10 weeks) to be eligible for a full funding award. Partial awards may be available for paid, part-time, or internships less than 8 weeks in length depending on funding and the number of applicants in a given year.
    • Summer fellowships are awarded until fellowship funds are exhausted and funding in a given year is not guaranteed.
  • The John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowships
    • In partnership with the John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship Foundation, King Hall will award six (6) John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowships to students who demonstrate commitment to public service and potential for excellence throughout their legal careers.
    • To be eligible, summer position must be full-time, unpaid, and at least 8 weeks (preferably 10) with a government entity or nonprofit organization whose work aligns with the legacy and jurisprudence of Justice Stevens. Judicial placements are not eligible.
  • The King Hall Legal Foundation (KHLF) Fellowships
    • KHLF is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operated and managed by King Hall students. KHLF will award summer public service fellowships to first and second year students who are KHLF members.
    • Fellowships will fund public service legal work that serves underprivileged and underrepresented populations. KHLF does not provide fellowships for judicial or prosecutorial work.
    • You must be an active member of KHLF and complete your volunteer requirements to be eligible for funding.

Current students can learn more about eligibility requirements, selection process, award calculation, and application information on the intranet.

Important Update:

Any payment provided to a student during a period when they are not enrolled, will be treated as Other Financial Assistance (OFA), and will be a part of that student’s financial aid package for the upcoming period of enrollment. Therefore, if a student is not enrolled during the summer but receives an award because they participate in an education related program, that award will be treated as a part of that student’s financial aid package for the upcoming period of enrollment. The payment will still be disbursed on the requested date. By receiving summer funding, the student agrees to remain enrolled at UC Davis School of Law for the proceeding academic year. If a student elects to transfer or withdraw after receiving summer funding, they must pay back the funds received immediately. 

Applications to fund Summer 2026 positions will open in Spring

External Summer Funding Opportunities

There are other sources of funding beyond those offered by King Hall and KHLF. Students should look to bar associations, foundations, affinity groups, etc. Learn more about funding opportunities by checking out our External Summer Public Interest Funding Opportunities page.

Federal Work-Study

Summer work-study allotments are part of your Spring and Fall 2025 academic year financial aid awards and will decrease the amount of financial aid loans available to you during the academic year. Due to limited funding, approval for Federal Work Study is not guaranteed. Please review the work-study section of our website for more detailed information.  If you are interested in summer work-study you must:

Study Away at Another Law School

Please review our information sheet. 

Contact the Law Registrar and obtain approval of the Senior Assistant Dean for Student Affairs to participate in and receive financial aid for a summer study away program.

If you did not borrow the entire amount of your 2025-2026 Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate Plus loans, you may use the funds for summer study away.  Check your award information on MyAwards. You must request these funds by April 24, 2026.  Otherwise, private, credit-based loan is available.  Select a lender using the UC Preferred Private Lender List (managed by ELMSelect). Financial Aid is not available for summer courses taken at another law school or study abroad programs coordinated by other law schools.