About the SPIL Stipend

Students for Public Interest Law (SPIL) was founded in 1989 and is an Associate Member of the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL). SPIL was organized to further the Columbus School of Law’s commitment to providing legal services within the public interest sector.

Since its inception, SPIL has demonstrated its commitment to diverse areas of public service by raising funds for summer stipends. The SPIL Stipend provides income to students who choose to spend their summer rendering legal services in the public interest for little or no compensation.

The Stipend represents compensation for actual employment. Income from a summer stipend is taxable income. The amount received is based exclusively on hours worked, with maximum earnings not to exceed $3,500. While services are delivered through a non-CUA-affiliated agency, actual employment is through CUA, of which the payroll office executes payment in the same way it would with any other part-time CUA employee.

About the Eric D. Weissman Memorial Scholarship

The Weissman family established the Eric D. Weissman Memorial Scholarship in order to specially honor one student who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to public interest law. This scholarship is for $3,500. The recipient is selected at the same time as SPIL stipend recipients are selected. All students who complete a SPIL Stipend application will also be considered for the Weissman Scholarship.