The University of Pittsburgh School of Law proudly announces the launch of its new Office of Public Interest (OPI). This transformative step reaffirms the law school’s commitment to pro bono advocacy, public service, and social justice. As part of this strategic initiative, Dean Jerry Dickinson has appointed Megan Lovett, Esq., as Pitt Law’s inaugural Assistant Dean of Public Interest to lead the newly established office.
“This is a historic moment for Pitt Law,” added Dean Dickinson. “By launching this office and appointing Megan as Assistant Dean, we are not only supporting our students, but we are reaffirming our values as a law school committed to service, equity, and justice.”
Lovett is a seasoned public interest attorney and public service career counselor with deep roots in Western Pennsylvania’s legal services community. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, she received the law school’s Jeffrey Crandall Award, a prestigious honor recognizing her commitment to legal aid and the public good. Her public interest legal practice has included serving low-income and marginalized clients through roles at Community Justice Project, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, and Neighborhood Legal Services.
Since 2020, Lovett has served as Director of Public Interest and Pro Bono Initiatives in Pitt Law’s Professional Development Office (PDO), where she has cultivated pro bono partnerships and guided students into public interest careers. She also served as Interim Director of the PDO from 2023 to 2024. In her new role, Lovett will continue as a member of the PDO, supporting students as a career counselor while expanding Pitt Law’s strategic leadership in public interest law.
As Assistant Dean, Lovett will oversee the full portfolio of the law school’s public service programs, including public interest externships, pro bono initiatives, summer internships, community partnerships, and public interest-centered academic programming, helping to foster a culture of service within the law school community. Lovett will also collaborate with a wide array of partners across Pennsylvania, including bar associations, law firms, legal aid organizations, courts, and nonprofits, to enhance Pitt Law’s regional and statewide impact.
Lovett has also been appointed Adjunct Professor of Law and will teach courses such as Public Interest Lawyering, Poverty Law, and Pro Bono Intersession seminars, deepening Pitt Law’s curricular offerings for students committed to careers in public service.
“I’m honored to serve as Pitt Law’s inaugural Assistant Dean of Public Interest and to help shape a new chapter in the school’s commitment to justice for all,” said Lovett. “With this new Office of Public Interest, Pitt Law becomes a more supportive place for the next generation of public interest lawyers to learn and grow. Our leadership in this area will infuse this entire region with talented attorneys ready to serve their community and I’m so excited to be a part of it.”