The Richmond Public Interest Law Review (PILR) is a publication dedicated to issues of social welfare, public policy, and public interest law. PILR was founded by University of Richmond students in 1996 as the Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest, and it assumed its current name following the publication’s twenty-year anniversary.

Run by second and third-year law students, PILR publishes three issues annually, available both online and in print. Our authors include legal practitioners, law professors, legislative advocates, public officials, law students, and other insightful individuals working to change the law—and the world—for the better. PILR is committed to amplifying the voices of those with diverse identities and experiences, including authors working at the intersection of the law and other disciplines.

Our first annual issue focuses on the Virginia General Assembly. This issue includes writing on critical legislative developments from the year’s General Assembly session, as well as calls for public policy reform in Virginia.

Our second annual issue tackles general public interest law topics of regional, national, and international importance. This issue addresses a wide range of jurisprudence, with writing on emerging topics in public interest law, in addition to historical reflections.

Finally, each year, PILR hosts an in-person symposium at the University of Richmond School of Law. Open to the public, the symposium showcases legal practitioners, scholars, and policy makers who have in-depth knowledge of a particular area of public interest. Our third annual issue follows the symposium, with scholarly articles focusing on the same topic.

In addition to our three annual issues, PILR maintains a blog comprising short-form writing by our student staff members. The blog is regularly updated throughout the academic year.