POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

POST -GRADUATE

FELLOWSHIPS Public Interest Program

Rutgers Law School

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

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Table of Contents

Types of Fellowships

Project Based

Organizational

Academic

Law School Clinic

International

Law Firm

Elements of Fellowships

Resume

Cover letter (and/or proposal)

Transcript

Writing Sample

References

Drafting Tips

Interviewing for Fellowships

General Tips

Advice from Alumni

Skadden Interview Questions

APPENDICES

Sample Skadden Application

Sample EJW Fellowship

List of Resources

INTRODUCTION Post graduate fellowship are entry-level positions through which recent law school graduates receive funding to

work with well-established non-profit organizations in expanding their ability to address the legal needs of the

community. In addition to the nonprofit world, fellowships can be available at government agencies, academic

institutions and law firm. The guide focuses on post-graduate public interest fellowships that are full-time and

focused primarily on recent law graduates.

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TYPES OF FELLOWSHIPS

I. Project-Based Fellowships

Project-based fellowships help fund projects that serve unmet legal needs. Funders typically support projects

through which a fellow (and their host organization) can effectively address unmet legal needs, while also

creating a viable, replicable and sustainable model.

A. Equal Justice Works (www.equaljusticeworks.org) Equal Justice Works, the national leader in post-graduate fellowships, organizes, trains and

supports 75 fellows annually. Equal Justice Works does not request a transcript and grades are

not considered in the selection. EJW program provides vital financial and technical support to

young lawyers working on innovative and effective legal projects. The two-year fellowships

offer salary and generous loan repayment assistance; a national training and leadership

development program; and other forms of support during the term of fellowship.

B. Skadden (www.skaddenfellowships.org)

The Skadden Fellowship Foundation, described as “A legal Peace Corps” by the Los Angeles

Times, was established in 1988 as an affirmation of the firm’s commitment to public interest law.

The foundation, funded by a bequest from the firm, awards approximately 25 fellowships per

year to graduating law students and outgoing judicial clerks. Fellows provide legal services to

Project-Based Organizational

Clinic Law Firm

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the poor, elderly, homeless and disabled, as well as those deprived of their human rights or civil

rights. In recent years, fellows have also worked on issues concerning economic development

and community renewal.

A project is a carefully designed initiative that involves innovative, effective legal advocacy on

behalf of individuals, groups or issues that are not adequately represented by the legal system.

Advocacy may also include community legal education, training, and organizing; direct services;

litigation; transactional work; and administrative or legislative efforts.

Fellowships are awarded for one year, with the expectation of renewal for a second year.

Skadden provides each fellow with a salary of approximately $46,000 and pays all additional

benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those

fellows not covered by a law school loan repayment assistance program, the firm will pay a

fellow’s law school loan debt service for the duration of the fellowship.

1. Differences Between Equal Justice Works and Skadden Fellowships i. Skadden puts a strong emphasis on grades and academic performance, while EJW

bases more on the project proposal and the applicant’s commitment to public

interest as a career.

ii. EJW applications require a very detailed description of a proposal, and Skadden

only asks for a one-page description. Even though Skadden only asks for a one-

page description, they will still expect you to flesh out a detailed plan during the

interview stage.

iii. EJW will not discuss applications with candidates, while Skadden encourages

applicants to call about potential projects.

iv. The goal of the Skadden program is to provide solid apprenticeships for new

lawyers whereas; EJW focuses on entrepreneurial or “cutting edge” projects.

B. Echoing Green (www.echoinggreen.org) The Echoing Green Fellowship Program provides funding to select social entrepreneurs who

have original and compelling ideas for creating new public service organizations. Fellowships

are open to law graduates as well as undergraduates and graduates of other graduate schools.

Echoing Green takes a “venture capital” approach to philanthropy: it provides the “seed money”

and technical support to individuals creating innovative public service organizations or projects

that seek to catalyze positive change. Much like EJW, Echoing Green seeks to fund new,

innovative and creative projects. Unlike EJW, however, Echoing Green fellow can focus non-

legal projects. Moreover, Echoing Green funds both domestic and international projects.

Fellows receive two-year stipend (amount dependent upon circumstances), health and dental

insurance coverage, access to the Echoing Green network of social change makers and technical

assistance. The stipend can be used for any purpose related to the start-up of the organization or

project. A unique feature of Echoing Green fellowships is that two individuals can “partner” and

apply for two fellowships.

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C. Soros (www.soros.org) The Soros Justice Fellowship Program, established in 1997 by the Open Society Institute’s

Center on Crime, Communities and Culture, encourages innovative approaches to crime

prevention. They fund already exciting organizations and promote non-partisan debate on

complex criminal justice issues including juvenile justice and prison reform.

There are two types of Justice Fellowships: the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship and the

Senior Fellowship. In addition, Soros funds several other fellowship programs that span a range

of disciplines including law. The Justice Advocacy fellowships are the most feasible options for

law graduates.

1. According to application materials, selection is based on the following:

i. The competence and commitment to the project of both the individual applicant

and the sponsoring organization.

ii. A “realistic assessment” of the project’s goals.

iii. The need for the project.

iv. The “responsiveness of the project to the needs of the population served.” While

grades are considered, the program emphasizes the fellow’s commitment to

criminal justice and the likelihood of the project to have significant impact.

2. Soros interviews are unusually rigorous and play significant role in the selection process.

Therefore, if you are selected for an interview, it is important to learn as much as possible

about their interviewers, who are usually high-profile scholars and practitioners in the

criminal justice field. Before your interview, finalists should receive biographies of the

interviewers, but more in-depth research is advisable.

3. Soros Comparison to Equal Justice Works and Skadden

As with Skadden and EJW, Soros Justice Advocacy applicants need to secure their

sponsorship from an existing organization, such as a prosecutor’s office, public defender

or other nonprofit organization (in the United States or abroad Unlike Skadden or EJW,

the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowships can be used to fund individuals already

employed by the organization sponsor provided that the project “does not duplicate the

organization’s existing program.” As Skadden places a heavy emphasis on grades and

EJW focuses mainly on the project goals and the commitment of the applicant, Soros

places some emphasis on grades, but more emphasis on a commitment to criminal justice.

If you are interested in applying for a Soros fellowship, contact them directly and they

will match you with a previous fellow in a similar practice area for advice.

D. New Voices (www.newvoices.org/home.html)

The New Voices Fellowship Program is a capacity-building and leadership development grant

program that assists nonprofit organizations and professionals entering the fields of human rights

and international cooperation. Sponsored program areas include the following: international

human rights, women’s rights, racial justice/civil rights, migrant and refugee rights, international

peace and security, foreign policy and international economic policy.

Proposed fellows must clearly represent a “new voice” to the organization and its field. Most

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fellows will have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree, or have equivalent education

and experience. There are no limits with regard to age or professional experience. Strong

applications will demonstrate that this individual would offer new perspectives, expertise or

skills and insights to the organization and field. New Voices considers work and/or relevant

personal experience (and educational experience). Benefits include: up to $1,500/year to cover

the fellow’s participation in workshops, conferences, seminars, etc.; student loan

repayment/financial assistance up to $6,000/year; external mentoring/networking account (year

two) up to $1,000.

E. Berkeley Law Foundation (http://blf.boalt.org/)

The mission of the Berkeley Law Foundation is to fund new lawyers and innovative public

interest law projects that serve disadvantaged communities. The Foundation funds creative

public interest projects that will provide legal services to thousands of disadvantaged people, and

deploys the power of the law in the service of social justice.

F. Initiative for Public Interest Law at Yale (www.law.yale.edu/stuorgs/initiative.htm)

The Initiative is a nonprofit organization that provides start-up money for projects that protect

the legal rights or interests of inadequately represented groups. A list of grant recipients from the

past five years is included on the website. The Initiative seeks to fund individuals who are

launching new projects, not to provide funding for existing organizations. The Initiative funds

innovative projects that may have difficulty obtaining money from other sources due to the

subject matter of the project or the approach.

G. Independence Foundation (www.independencefoundation.org)

The Independence Foundation is committed to supporting free legal services for residents of the

Philadelphia region. The Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is a

key element of this commitment Through the Fellowship Program, the Foundation funds the

compensation and employment benefits for accomplished young lawyers who have decided to

direct their considerable talents to public interest service. The Foundation requires that the focus

of all Fellowship work be on direct representation of disadvantaged clients. The Foundation also

assists the Fellows in repayment of their often substantial educational loans. Thus the Foundation

enables some of the best and brightest law school graduates to come to the Philadelphia area and

obtain employment with a local organization that provides free legal services to the underserved.

Applications are typically due in early September.

H. Rutgers Law School Maida Post-Graduate Fellowship (http://www.law.rutgers.edu/public-

interest-fellowships-and-funding-opportunities)

The Maida Public Interest Fellowships Program funds the salary portion of one post-graduate

fellowship each year, while the host nonprofit legal services organization funds the Fellow’s

benefits. Fellows have been funded for work at Fair Share Housing Corp., enforcing New

Jersey’s Mt. Laurel decision in the context of municipal redevelopment plans (2015-2016) and at

ACLU-NJ, for work on New Jersey’s municipal court practices that in some instances perpetuate

the criminalization of poverty. Priority is given to projects that benefit New Jersey residents.

Applications are available around December 15 and are due in March.

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II. ORGANIZATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS

Organizational fellowships are (usually) two-year positions within existing organizations. Graduates apply to

these fellowships much in the same way one would apply for a job – i.e. a resume and cover letter.

Some common examples of organizational fellowships are:

A. The American Civil Liberties Union (www.aclu.org)

There are several types of ACLU fellowships spanning a variety of issues including litigation,

civil rights, racial justice, national security and criminal justice issues. For information on these

fellowships, visit the ACLU website.

B. Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org/fellowships)

Each year, Human Rights Watch awards the Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship to

recent graduates of law schools or graduate programs (master’s and above) in the fields of law,

journalism, international relations, or other relevant disciplines. Fellows work full-time for one

year with one or more divisions of Human Rights Watch, based in New York City or

Washington, DC. Fellows monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-

site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy aimed at

publicizing and curtailing human rights violations.

C. The Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program

(https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-institutes/wlppfp/)

The Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program offers annual fellowships to attorneys

with a background in women’s rights. Fellows work for 12 months and are placed in either

nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, or as a clinical teaching fellow in the DC-Metro

area advocating for the advancement of women’s rights, while participating in professional

development programs sponsored by the fellowship.

D. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General Bristow Fellowship

(https://www.justice.gov/osg/employment-opportunities) Every year, the Office of the Solicitor General accepts applications for one-year Bristow

fellowships. Bristow Fellows assist OSG attorneys in drafting briefs in opposition to certiorari

filed against the government in the Supreme Court of the United States, preparing petitions for

certiorari and briefs on the merits in Supreme Court cases, preparing recommendations to the

Solicitor General regarding authorization of government appeals in the lower courts, and

assisting in the preparation of oral arguments in the Supreme Court. OSG usually selects four

Bristow fellows each year.

Applicants must be law school graduates with excellent academic records. They typically come

to the fellowship after completion of a one-year judicial clerkship, most frequently with a federal

appellate court judge.

Applications for Bristow fellowships are accepted between July 15 and September 1 of the

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preceding year. Fellows are appointed for a one-year period typically starting in July of each

year. Fellowship selections will be announced no later than December of the application

submission year. The fellowship has a one-year term that cannot lead directly to employment in

the Solicitor General's Office. The salary is established at the GS-12 level.

E. U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Honors Program

(https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/entry-level-attorneys) The Attorney General’s Honors Program is the largest and most prestigious federal entry-level

attorney hiring program of its kind. Eligibility is generally limited to graduating law students and

recent law school graduates who entered judicial clerkships, graduate law programs, or

qualifying legal fellowships within 9 months of law school graduation and who meet

additional eligibility requirements.

Every year, various components and U.S. Attorneys' Offices hire entry-level attorneys through

the Honors Program. The number of entry-level attorney positions varies from year to year.

Justice takes pride in the fact that we consider the “whole candidate” when making selections for

employment. Selections are made based on many elements of a candidate’s background

including a demonstrated commitment to government service, academic achievement, leadership,

law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, past employment, and

extracurricular activities that relate to the work of Justice and the relevant component.

F. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Legal Honors Program

(http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/general_counsel/legalhonorsp

rogram)

HUD’s Legal Honors Program is designed for law students graduating from J.D. and LLM

programs, and recent law school graduates completing a judicial clerkship. The Legal Honors

Program is HUD’s only hiring program for entry-level attorneys. Subject to appropriations,

approximately 10-20 legal honor positions are available annually in headquarters and field

offices. Successful candidates begin work in August or September and participate in a 14-month

appointment that may lead to a permanent position, pending bar admission. During the program,

Legal Honors are assigned mentors, are given the opportunity to rotate to other offices within

OGC, and participate in additional training and monthly discussions to enhance their program

experience and develop their legal abilities.

The program is highly competitive and candidates are selected on the basis of merit. Selection

considerations include many factors, such as: academic achievement; law review and other

publication work; extracurricular activities such as moot court competitions and legal clinics;

employment history; and participation in activities related to HUD’s mission.

G. Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (https://lawyerscommittee.org/fellowship-

opportunities/)

1. George N. Lindsay Fellowship

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the nation’s foremost civil

right legal organizations, annually sponsors a one-year fellowship under the George N.

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Lindsay Civil Rights Fellowship Program. The Lindsay Fellowship provides an

opportunity for recent law school graduates to become familiar with civil rights practice

by working with many of the nation’s leading civil rights attorneys at the national office

of the Lawyers’ Committee in Washington, D.C. Our fellows become involved with

substantive legal activities, which involve co-counseled litigation with prominent law

firms, including client contact, case investigation, discovery, negotiations, amicus briefs,

appeals, and trial practice. Non-litigation activities include legal services to community

development groups, legislative and public policy advocacy, and public education on

important civil rights matters.

The one year Fellowship pays a stipend of $42,000, supplemented by a loan forgiveness

payment of $2,000. The yearly stipend is also supplemented by payment of bar review

and fees. Fellows have the opportunity to gain legal experience in one or more of the

following areas: Voting Rights, Employment Discrimination, Criminal Justice,

Education, or Fair Housing and Community Development.

2. Jerry Shestack Justice Fellowship

The Shestack Fellow will be engaged in civil rights litigation of national significance,

working side-by-side with leaders of the civil rights bar in the Lawyers’ Committee and

in private practice. The Fellow will be selected on a bi-annual basis by the Lawyers’

Committee in consultation with the Shestack Justice Advisory Committee. It is a two-

year Fellowship focused on civil rights litigation.

Law school graduates who have passed the bar and have two to three years of outstanding

litigation experience and/or judicial clerkships are eligible to apply. The chosen Fellow

will have demonstrated a passion and commitment to civil rights and public service and

have shown promise of becoming an exceptional litigator.

H. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (https://www.fdic.gov/about/legalhonors/)

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Honors Attorney Program provides valuable and

challenging professional opportunities for outstanding law school graduates. Our goal is to

provide our Honors Attorneys with a better understanding of the FDIC's role in our financial

system while providing new attorneys with an opportunity for public service. Our Honors

Attorneys are assigned to a wide variety of projects throughout the Legal Division that provide

extensive legal experience as well as a substantial amount of individual responsibility. To that

end, during the first year of the program all of our Honors Attorneys participate in three-month

rotations through various Legal Division sections in our Headquarters office as well as one

rotation to one of our field locations (Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas

or San Francisco). During their second year, our Honors Attorneys devote their time to longer

term assignments with one or more of our sections. FDIC Honors Attorney appointments are for

a term not to exceed 24 months.

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The practice of law at the FDIC reflects the broad nature of the FDIC's work as well as its unique

statutory powers. For example, because the FDIC has independent litigating authority our

attorneys practice before virtually all courts. FDIC attorneys develop case strategy, write the

briefs and appear in court for arguments. The FDIC's Legal Division is a full service corporate

practice providing not only litigation but transactional, regulatory and administrative legal

services to the Corporation. As an FDIC Honors Attorney you will have the opportunity to work

in a number of exciting areas including bank regulatory matters, litigation and bank receivership

matters, and corporate practice.

I. Juvenile Law Center, Zubrow Fellowship in Children’s Law (http://jlc.org/about-us/who-

we-are/working-at-jlc/zubrow-fellowship-childrens-law)

The Zubrow Fellowship is the only post-graduate fellowship that provides an opportunity to

engage in a wide variety of advocacy efforts on behalf of children in the delinquency and

dependency systems. Zubrow Fellows are involved in training, legislative efforts, and policy

work on issues ranging from the rights of dependent youth aging out of the foster care system to

the needs of juveniles reentering the community from delinquent placements. The Zubrow Fellows are exposed to all aspects of Juvenile Law Center's work, which includes responding to opportunities that arise through cases, crises and collaborations. As a result, much of the Fellows' work is determined by the nature of the opportunities that arise during their tenure.

The Zubrow Fellowship experience is shaped by individual Fellows, whose interests influence

the allocation of assignments. When possible, Juvenile Law Center attempts to assign Fellows to

projects that reflect the Fellows' interests.

J. U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor Honors Program

(https://www.dol.gov/sol/honorsprogram/)

The Honors Program gives attorneys a unique opportunity to help interpret and enforce a broad

range of labor and employment laws while working in one of the largest legal offices in the

federal government. Honors attorneys will gain a broad knowledge of labor and employment

matters that would be difficult to obtain in years of private practice, and will share the honor and

privilege of representing the United States government and engaging in public service.

Attorneys in the Honors Program who are located in the national office will spend their first two

years in SOL handling a broad variety of assignments from all divisions in the national office.

Honors attorneys may also receive assignments from SOL's regional offices, which typically

involve trial work, including discovery, brief writing, and oral argument. After the first nine

months in the program, Honors attorneys begin a series of 90-day rotations to various SOL

divisions in the national office. National office Honors attorneys may also volunteer to work in a

regional office for one of their rotations, and vice versa. After two years, Honors attorneys will

be permanently placed in a specific office in SOL. All efforts will be made to accommodate

attorneys' preferences, consistent with the needs of the department. This placement may be in

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either a national office division or a regional office.

K. National Endowment for Democracy

(http://fellowships.ned.org/applications/id.30/default.asp)

1. Hurford Youth Fellowship

Applicants interested in the Hurford Youth Fellows Program must be no older than 30

years of age. They must demonstrate strong interest in democratic activism and in the

advancement of democracy in their respective communities, as well as worldwide. Youth

affiliated with civil society organizations are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants

can be citizens of any country; should be proficient in the English language; can focus on

the political, social, economic, legal, or cultural aspects of democratic development; and,

if selected, should be available for full-time, residential fellowship.

2. Reagen-Fascell Fellowship

This fellowship is open to both practitioners and scholars. Practitioners include: activists,

human rights advocates, lawyers, journalists, and other civil society professionals from

developing and aspiring democracies throughout the world with substantial experience

working to promote democracy or human rights. Scholars include: professors,

researchers, journalists, and other writers from developing and aspiring democracies, and

distinguished scholars from the United States or other established democracies.

Academics must be in possession of a doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent) at the time of

application; scholarly applicants must also have a proven record of publications.

Applicants can be citizens of any country; should be proficient in the English language;

can focus on the political, social, economic, legal, or cultural aspects of democratic

development; and, if selected, should be available for full-time, residential fellowship.

L. Public Justice Center, Murnaghan Fellowship (http://www.murnaghanfellowship.org/)

The Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. Appellate Advocacy Fellowship allows a recent law graduate

who has completed a judicial clerkship to spend a year engaging in appellate advocacy in the

areas of civil rights and poverty law. The Fellow works at the Public Justice Center in our

Appellate Advocacy Project. The Project has achieved substantial success in advocating for poor

and disadvantaged persons in state and federal appellate courts. The Murnaghan Fellow works

with other lawyers in the Appellate Advocacy Project to ensure that cases with civil rights and

poverty law implications are litigated effectively and receive a full hearing. Depending on the

case, the Fellow serves as lead counsel, submits briefs as amicus curiae ("friend of the court"), or

assists existing appellate counsel.

M. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Volunteer Church-State Litigation

Fellowship (https://www.au.org/about/employment/volunteer-church-state-litigation-

fellowship-2)

Americans United for Separation of Church and State — the nation’s leading church-state

advocacy organization — is accepting applications to join our seven-attorney legal team as a

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Volunteer Litigation Fellow for a term of three months to one year. We have a diverse litigation

and amicus curiae practice addressing a wide variety of constitutional questions. We challenge

religious activities in the public schools, public financing of religious institutions, and

government-sponsored prayers and religious displays. We defend women’s, LGBT, and other

civil rights against religion-based discrimination and deprivation. Most of our cases involve

novel, cutting-edge First Amendment and other constitutional issues.

The duties of Volunteer Fellows include assisting with ongoing litigation by conducting legal

and factual research and writing; drafting demand letters to resolve constitutional violations

without filing suit; and analyzing potential new cases. Volunteer Fellows may also draft

pleadings, briefs, or discovery; communicate with clients and interview witnesses; and perform

other litigation tasks.

N. Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program (http://www.culturalvistas.org/programs-

for-students-and-professionals/professional-fellowships/robert-bosch-foundation-

fellowship-program)

The Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program is a distinguished transatlantic initiative that

offers fifteen accomplished Americans the opportunity to complete a comprehensive professional

development program in Germany. The Bosch Fellowship is comprised of three main

components: customized practical placements, professional seminars, and German language

training.

Bosch Fellows act as consultants in their field of expertise at leading public or private

institutions in Germany. In addition, Bosch Fellows participate in professional seminars, where

they travel to meet and exchange ideas with key figures across Germany and Europe. Prior to

their work placements and seminars, Bosch Fellows participate in up to 5 months of language

training with both private tutors in the United States and group classes in Germany.

Fellows are from the fields of business administration, cultural management (ex. museum,

theater, orchestra), journalism, law, non-profit, public policy, and urban planning. Candidates for

the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program must meet the following requirements: U.S.

citizen; 40 years of age or younger at the application deadline; minimum five years of relevant,

full-time work experience in target fellowship field (excluding internships); graduate degree

preferred; evidence of outstanding professional performance; sincere commitment to furthering

the transatlantic relationship.

O. Alfa Fellowship Program (http://www.culturalvistas.org/programs-for-students-and-

professionals/professional-fellowships/alfa-fellowship)

The Alfa Fellowship Program is a distinguished professional development program placing

accomplished young professionals in work assignments at leading organizations in the fields of

business, economics, journalism, law, public policy, and related areas in Russia.

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The program accepts up to 18 American, British, and German citizens per year. The program

includes intensive Russian language training, seminar series, and extended professional

experience. Fellows receive a monthly stipend, language training, and coverage of all program-

related travel costs, housing, and insurance.

The Alfa Fellowship Program aims to expand networks of American, British, German, and

Russian professionals, develop greater intercultural understanding, and advance knowledge of

Russia in the West. Candidates for the Alfa Fellowship Program must meet the following

eligibility requirements: U.S., U.K., or German citizen; 25–35 years old at the application

deadline; Russian proficiency is preferred; qualified candidates with fluency in another second

language may be considered; graduate degree or equivalent training in business, economics,

journalism, law, public policy, or a related field; at least two years of relevant work experience

(candidates without a graduate degree must demonstrate extensive and equivalent professional

experience in their field, approximately six years, in order to qualify for the Alfa Fellowship

Program).

P. Equal Justice Initiative Legal Fellowship (http://www.eji.org/node/425)

The Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, is pleased to announce the availability of

a fully funded (with benefits) two-year project fellowship for law school graduates. EJI is a non-

profit law office and human rights organization that provides legal assistance to condemned

prisoners, children in the criminal justice system, people wrongly convicted or sentenced, and the

poor and vulnerable facing imprisonment. We advocate for more hopeful solutions to the

violence, powerlessness, and despair that plague many marginalized communities.

In addition, we are challenging excessive and abusive punishments imposed on children across

the United States, working on large reform projects relating to racial injustice and economic

inequality, and we maintain a large docket of death penalty cases, wrongful conviction cases, and

civil rights cases. In addition, we are committed to challenging violence against incarcerated

individuals, abuse of power by correctional officers, unsafe prison conditions, mistreatment of

mentally ill inmates, and illegal detention of the poor. We work with and provide training to

lawyers, law students, community leaders, and low-income communities to improve access to

justice. We issue research reports and materials aimed at educating the public and increasing

awareness of problems related to criminal justice, race, and poverty.

EJI is seeking lawyers or law graduates with strong advocacy skills who are highly motivated,

hard-working, and who embrace our mission and program goals enthusiastically. EJI provides

full benefits.

Q. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Legal Fellowships

(http://www.rcfp.org/about-us/fellowships)

1. McCormick Foundation Legal Fellowship

This fellowship is funded by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. The McCormick

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fellow will be expected to draft approximately six appellate amicus briefs in significant

cases involving First Amendment/media law issues during the fellowship, primarily

concerning access to court records and proceedings. Preferably, a McCormick candidate

will have three years of post-graduate legal experience in a law firm, public interest

group, government agency, or judicial clerkship, with substantial experience in appellate

brief writing. Strong legal research and writing skills are required. As with all fellowship

positions, experience in news reporting is strongly preferred. The fellowship stipend is

$45,000, with fully-paid health benefits.

2. Jack Nelson-Dow Jones Foundation Legal Fellowship

The Jack Nelson–Dow Jones Foundation Legal Fellowship for a recent law school

graduate honors Reporters Committee founder Jack Nelson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning

reporter, who for many years was Washington bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times;

and the Dow Jones Foundation, which has been generously supporting the Reporters

Committee since 1973. Nelson, who died in 2009, is a former chair of the Executive

Committee of the Reporters Committee and served on its Steering Committee for 25

years. The Dow Jones Foundation, established in 1954, supports organizations involved

with journalism and press freedom, literacy and education as well as arts and

culture. The Jack Nelson–Dow Jones Foundation Legal Fellow focuses on state and

federal freedom of information law. The fellowship stipend is $43,000, with fully-paid

health benefits.

3. Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Legal Fellowship

The Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Legal Fellowship is a one-year fellowship that

focuses on First Amendment issues, primarily involving libel, invasion of privacy, and

protection of confidential sources and materials. It is funded by the Ethics & Excellence

in Journalism Foundation. The fellowship stipend is $43,000, with fully-paid health

benefits.

4. Stanton Foundation Legal Fellowship

The Stanton Foundation fellow will spearhead our work in free press, national security,

and surveillance policy. With the Stanton fellowship, the Reporters Committee hopes to

be able to play a larger role in helping the news media develop its own set of priorities

and strategic initiatives in these ongoing debates. We anticipate that candidates for the

position may be judicial clerks, associates at law firms, fellows or staff attorneys at public

interest organizations, or other recent law school graduates. The fellowship will entail a

combination of brief-writing, public advocacy, and freedom of information activity. The

fellow will also respond to requests from reporters, work on special projects, and write

for our website and quarterly magazine. Because it is a two-year program, the fellow is

expected to complete a significant research project by the end of the fellowship term. A

demonstrated interest or experience in journalism, First Amendment law, or national

security issues is preferred. Post-law school work experience is also preferred, but we

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15

will accept applications from third year law students. The new Stanton fellow will be

paid an annual salary of $68,000 in addition to receiving full health benefits.

5. Stanton Foundation Media Litigation Fellowship

The Reporters Committee is now accepting applications for a new fellowship. The

Stanton Foundation Media Litigation Fellowship is a new opportunity for an early-career

lawyer to play a hands-on role in the full scope of First Amendment and free press

litigation matters handled by Reporters Committee staff attorneys. The Stanton

Foundation Fellow will report directly to our Litigation Director and work on small

litigation teams with other legal fellows and Reporters Committee staff attorneys on a

variety of First Amendment and media law cases, with a focus on assisting with access to

courts and freedom of information litigation brought on behalf of the Reporters

Committee, journalists, and news organizations. The Stanton Foundation Fellow will

participate in all aspects of state and federal litigation at both the trial and appellate level,

including motion practice, discovery, brief writing, and hearing/oral argument

preparation.

Candidates for this challenging and rewarding two-year fellowship beginning in the fall

of 2015 should have a demonstrated interest in the First Amendment and media

law. Post-law school judicial clerkship, fellowship, and/or litigation experience with a

law firm or public interest organization is strongly preferred. However, recent law school

graduates with strong credentials will be considered. Applicants should be admitted to

practice law in at least one jurisdiction or awaiting bar exam results/admission in at least

one jurisdiction at the start of the fellowship term. Applicants who are not members of

the D.C. Bar will be required to seek admission. The Stanton Foundation Fellow will be

paid an annual salary of $68,000 and will receive full health benefits.

R. Supreme Court Fellows Program (http://www.supremecourt.gov/fellows/)

Each year, the Supreme Court Fellows Commission selects four talented individuals to engage

for one year in the work of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Administrative Office of

the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, or the United States Sentencing

Commission. The program provides fellows with practical exposure to judicial administration,

policy development, and education. Through hands-on participation, fellows gain unique insight

into the challenges of federal court management.

The Supreme Court Fellows Program has traditionally provided opportunities for mid-career

professionals drawn from the fields of law and political science. The Fellows Program also offers

those opportunities to recent law school graduates and doctoral degree recipients with

exceptional records of achievement. We are particularly interested in applicants who are

completing a judicial clerkship and are interested in broadening their understanding of the

judicial system through exposure to federal court administration. The fellowship experience will

be especially valuable to people who are interested in pursuing an academic career or a career in

public service. We have designed four different fellowship options to provide a range of career

development experiences.

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16

1. Administrative Office of the United States Courts

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts provides program management, legal

counsel, legislative services, and administrative support to the federal courts and their

policy-making body, the Judicial Conference. The fellow placed at the Administrative

Office may assist one or more of the Judicial Conference Committees in developing

policies related to a variety of areas of court administration, including rules of civil

procedure, criminal procedure, and evidence. The fellow will also provide support to the

general operations of the Administrative Office. This fellowship, which provides a

unique vantage point for observing how federal judicial policies and rules are formulated,

is designed for individuals who have an academic or practical interest in judicial

administration, litigation, and legal procedure. The fellow assigned to the Administrative

Office will be expected to produce an article for publication and make a presentation to

United States judges on a topic of legal practice or procedural reform.

2. Federal Judicial Center

The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency for the federal judiciary.

It provides orientation and continuing education for all federal judges, as well as

management and supervisory education for the court staff. The fellow serving at the

Federal Judicial Center will support the Center’s research and educational activities,

including its international training programs. The Center’s projects span a broad range of

topics, including practice-oriented legal education on specific subjects, such as patent

law, scientific evidence, or arbitration, and empirically based studies in judicial reform.

This fellowship does not focus on a discrete subject matter, such as comparative,

procedural, or criminal law. It is fashioned for individuals who have a broad interest in

legal pedagogy or practical programs for legal reform. The fellow assigned to the Federal

Judicial Center will be expected to produce a work of scholarship for publication and

make a presentation to United States judges on a topic relating to the education or

research programs of the Center for that year.

3. Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court is not only a vital component of American government, but also an

international symbol of the rule of law that attracts scores of official foreign delegations

each year. The fellow based at the Supreme Court will be assigned to the Office of the

Counselor to the Chief Justice and have primary responsibility for briefing foreign jurists,

court administrators, and other dignitaries on the operation, procedures, and history of the

Court. The fellow will gain exposure to foreign legal systems, including those in

developing nations, through direct contact with foreign judges and court officials. The

fellow will also assist in the general activities of the Counselor’s Office, which supports

the Chief Justice in his administrative and policy functions as head of the judiciary. This

fellowship is ideally suited for individuals who have an academic interest in foreign legal

systems and wish to broaden their knowledge through dialogue and exchange with

participants in those systems. The fellow assigned to the Supreme Court will be expected

to produce an article for publication and make a presentation to United States judges on a

topic of international or comparative law.

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4. United States Sentencing Commission

The United States Sentencing Commission engages in policy analysis of crime and

punishment at the national level and uses the results in the development of federal

sentencing guidelines. The fellow serving at the Sentencing Commission will participate

in professional teams conducting policy, legal, and social science research on the cutting

edge of criminal sentencing reform. The breadth of the Commission’s work and its

relatively small size provide the fellow with both a wide-ranging exposure to criminal

law and opportunities for active participation in addressing sentencing issues. This

fellowship will interest individuals with an academic or practice-oriented interest in

criminal law. The fellow assigned to the Sentencing Commission will be expected to

produce a work of scholarship for publication and make a presentation to United States

judges on a topic of criminal or sentencing law.

S. U.S. Copyright Office, Barbara A. Ringer Copyright Honors Program

(http://www.copyright.gov/about/special-programs/ringer.html)

The Ringer Honors Program is a distinguished public service opportunity for attorneys in the

early stages of their career who have strong interest and a demonstrated record of academic or

practical success in copyright law. The Program accepts applications from individuals who are in

their final year at a U.S.-accredited law school or have graduated from such a law school

(receiving a J.D. or LL.M.) within the five-year period preceding their application date. In

addition to promising law students, the Program welcomes applications from judicial law clerks

and those practicing at a law firm or in another setting. Although bar membership is not required

for the position, Ringer Fellows must have been awarded their J.D. by the time they begin the

fellowship. Please note that under applicable law, paid positions at the Copyright Office are

ordinarily limited to U.S. citizens. The Office expects to appoint one or two Ringer Fellows each

year.

Ringer Fellows serve as full-time federal employees and are eligible for salary and benefits as

permitted under federal law. They are appointed at a General Schedule ("GS") level ranging from

11 to 14, depending upon their individual qualifications and experience. A Fellow who is

admitted to a state bar during the period of his or her appointment may be eligible for promotion

to a higher GS level, contingent upon his or her performance, the Office's staffing needs and

funding considerations.

T. Bernabei & Kabat Civil Rights Litigation Fellowship (http://bernabeipllc.com/civil-rights-

litigation-fellowship/)

Our Civil Rights Litigation Fellowship lasts for one year, with the opportunity to apply for a

permanent associate position when the fellowship ends. The Fellow participates in all aspects of

litigation, from interviewing clients to assisting with trials, hearings and mediations. Fellows

have extensive client contact and participate in case development and strategy. We also

encourage Fellows’ professional development by providing time for Fellows to attend seminars

and trainings and to seek out opportunities for publication.

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Our ideal Fellow candidate has excellent research and writing skills, strong academic credentials,

a desire to litigate, and a demonstrated commitment to civil rights.

U. Insight Collaborative Fellowships

(http://www.insightcollaborative.org/ic_2009/fellowship_about.php)

Insight Collaborative fundamentally changes the way people deal with conflict, develop working

relationships, communicate, and problem solve. Impact varies by project and ranges from an

increase in resolved disputes, to more effective problem solving, to an improved ability of

partner organizations to fulfill their missions.

Each year, the Insight Collaborative Fellowship Program selects a group of exceptional Fellows

dedicated to making a positive difference in the world, and provides them with an opportunity to

turn their passion and determination into action. Through intensive training and planning, Insight

Collaborative teaches Fellows how to develop and implement innovative programs throughout

the world in a series of three-month placements. Incorporating the knowledge and experience of

local partners in the field, Fellows provide training, manage teams, coordinate projects, and help

organizations address the needs of those affected by conflict.

Most local partners cannot afford the specialized conflict management expertise and services

Fellows provide. Fellows donate their time, energy, and passion. Insight Collaborative donates

its network of relationships, methodology, and skills. Donors contribute the funds required to

serve individuals and communities in need. By funding Insight Fellowship Program Projects,

donors have a direct and meaningful impact on humanitarian efforts around the world.

V. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

Fellowship Program (http://lcc.aflcio.org/public/lcc-law-school-outreach-project/law-

student-outreach/)

The Legal Department of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial

Organizations ("AFL-CIO") is offering a one-year fellowship. The fellowship offers an excellent

opportunity for recent law school graduates to work with experienced unionside lawyers on a

wide variety of issues.

The AFL-CIO Fellow will work with lawyers in the AFL-CIO Legal Department and with other

union lawyers around the country on a wide range of activities. The Fellow will assist

experienced lawyers working on cases and regulatory matters that affect the labor movement and

the rights of workers. The AFL-CIO’s litigation caseload includes cases in the U.S. Supreme

Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the NLRB and a small number of state appellate suits. In

addition, the AFL-CIO Legal Department frequently presents the views of the labor movement

on federal regulatory initiatives affecting workers. Whenever possible, the Fellow will be given

the opportunity to participate in meetings with union lawyers and to attend oral arguments. The

AFL-CIO Fellow will also participate in Lawyers Coordinating Committee activities, including

preparation for attorney conferences, outreach to new labor lawyers and law students, and

regular opportunities to attend LCC meetings and conferences.

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19

Recent law graduates, judicial clerks, and third-year law students are welcome to apply.

Applicants should have excellent legal research and writing skills and enjoy legal research and

appellate work. Applicants should also have a commitment to workers’ rights and a desire to

practice union-side labor law. The fellowship salary is in the range of $60,000 to $65,000

depending on experience. Benefits include excellent medical and dental insurance plus paid

vacation. The AFL-CIO is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified applicants

to apply.

W. Center for Constitutional Rights, Bertha Fellowship

(http://ccrjustice.org/home/BerthaJusticeInstitute/legal-fellowship-program)

The Bertha Fellowship is for emerging lawyers (0-2 years out of law school) who are interested

in gaining both practical experience working on CCR cases and a theoretical understanding of

how legal advocacy can create social change. CCR hosts three Bertha Fellows, one to work

alongside attorneys in each of our three docket areas: Guantánamo Global Justice Initiative,

Government Misconduct/Racial Justice, and International Human Rights.

The Bertha Fellowship at CCR is sponsored by the Bertha Foundation which hosts emerging

lawyers at several legal organizations across the world. In addition to gaining legal experience on

CCR cases, Bertha Fellows at CCR will have opportunities to attend regional and international

meetings, network with lawyers from around the world, and receive mentoring and non-

traditional training in leadership, management, media and advocacy, activism and movement

building.

X. Center for International and Environmental Law Louis B. Sohn Fellowship

(http://www.ciel.org/about-us/louis-b-sohn-fellowship/)

The Sohn Fellowship is named after Louis B. Sohn, the renowned international law teacher,

scholar, practitioner, and governmental advisor. Professor Sohn has been a giant in the fields of

both international human rights law and international environmental law, and he was a firm

believer in the inter-connection of all branches of international law. Professor Sohn, who taught

at the law schools at Harvard University, the University of Georgia, and George Washington

University, was the first recipient of CIEL’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the

Development of International Environmental Law.

CIEL offers one ad-honorem fellowship each year, the Louis B. Sohn Fellowship in Human

Rights and Environment, for public interest lawyers that have had significant on the ground

experience working on human rights issues. The LBS Fellowship will cover the cost of attending

a strategic meeting on human rights and the environment.

Y. Disability Rights Advocates, Sidney M. Wolinsky Fellowship

(http://dralegal.org/jobs/wolinsky-fellow/)

With offices in California and New York, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is one of the

leading nonprofit disability rights legal centers in the nation. DRA provides free legal

representation to people with the full spectrum of disabilities in complex, system-change class-

action cases. Founded in 1993, DRA has taken on and won hundreds of cases—achieving

dramatic improvements for people with disabilities seeking health care, employment,

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20

transportation, education, disaster preparedness planning, voting and housing.

DRA has an established commitment to mentoring and training the best young lawyers to

practice law in the public interest. DRA has sponsored over 30 fellowships since its inception in

1993, including Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and other fellowships supported by generous

DRA donors. DRA fellows get unparalleled experience and are provided with immediate

opportunities to participate in all aspects of public interest litigation. This experience is

invaluable –all of DRA’s past fellows have gone on to successful careers, almost all in public

interest law. Fellowship Attorney positions are full-time positions in DRA’s Berkeley and New

York offices. Fellowship Attorneys will report to DRA’s litigation directors.

Z. Environmental Law Institute, Public Interest Environmental Law Fellow

(http://www.eli.org/employment/public-interest-environmental-law-fellow)

Since 1999, the Research and Policy Division of the Environmental Law Institute has awarded a

prestigious annual fellowship for outstanding recent law school graduates. The law fellow works

closely with ELI attorneys and other professionals, including ELI’s domestic and international

partners, to advance environmental protection by analyzing existing legal tools, developing new

ones, and crafting innovative approaches to implementation. This may require considering how

environmental protection is affected by other laws and policies that are related to environmental

laws – e.g., those governing energy, taxation, and land use. Assignments include legal research

and writing tasks across all ELI program areas, and the law fellow may be asked to make public

presentations and assist in facilitating training activities. The law fellow is expected to assume

substantial responsibility. Salary: $38,000, with excellent benefits.

1. Qualifications:

2. The fellowship hiring process is rigorous and highly competitive. Applicants must have a

top academic record and possess superior legal research and writing skills. Law review

experience is preferred; foreign language skills are a plus. The fellowship is awarded to a

recent law school graduate (judicial law clerks are invited to apply). The one-year

position begins in September of each year.

AA. Equal Rights Advocates, Ruth Chance Law Fellowship

(http://www.equalrights.org/post-graduate-legal-fellowships-now-accepting-initial-

application/)

The Ruth Chance Law Fellowship is an entry level position for a recent law school graduate,

which offers the opportunity to obtain training and experience in litigation and other aspects of

public interest practice. As a member of the legal team at ERA, the Ruth Chance Law Fellow

oversees the Advice and Counseling program, assists other attorneys with litigation and special

projects, and participates in community outreach, public education, and policy advocacy efforts.

1. Criteria

i. JD awarded from a U.S. law school;

ii. Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to gender equality, women’s rights

and legal issues affecting women and/or girls, people of color, and other

populations that are deprived of civil and/or human rights;

iii. Dedication to being a team player, commitment to collaboration and to providing

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the highest level of client service;

iv. Record of strong academic performance and excellend legal research and writing

skills;

v. Demonstrated ability to problem solve, exercise sound judgment, take initiative,

and work independently;

vi. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; fluency in Spanish strongly

preferred.

BB. Families USA, Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice

(http://familiesusa.org/sites/default/files/applications/FAM_Villers%20Application%20For

m.pdf)

Villers Fellowships for Health Care Justice aim to inspire and develop future generations of

health care justice leaders. Fellows work full-time for one year in Families USA’s Health Policy

Department in Washington, D.C., where they conduct primary and secondary research on a range

of health care issues and health reform topics, contribute to the organization’s publications, and

gain exposure to the work of a public policy advocacy nonprofit.

Each fellowship lasts for one year, from August through the following July. Fellows receive an

annual salary of approximately $38,000 as well as health care benefits.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. for a year. Families USA prefers that

applicants either have a college degree or plan to receive a college degree prior to taking up the

fellowship. Candidates from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply, provided they

have strong analytical and writing skills. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to

social and health care justice advocacy following the fellowship year, and fellows must commit

to mentoring at least one person over the course of their careers.

CC. Fried Frank Fellowships (http://www.friedfrank.com/?pageID=49)

Fried Frank has created unique programs that effectively bridge the worlds of private law firm

litigation and public service law by joining with two of the country's leading civil rights

advocacy organizations, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and the

Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

The LDF and MALDEF fellowships each give an entry-level lawyer the opportunity to spend

two years as a Fried Frank litigator and then two years as a staff attorney with LDF or MALDEF.

At the end of their four-year commitment, our successful Fellows are encouraged to interview to

return to Fried Frank and, in some cases, they may continue on the staff of their civil rights

organization. We are proud that a number of our former Fellows hold high-level positions on the

staffs of both LDF and MALDEF.

The ideal candidate for a Fried Frank Fellowship is a third-year law student or recent graduate

currently in a judicial clerkship. Candidates for the MALDEF and LDF fellowships should have

a genuine interest in both corporate and civil rights litigation.

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DD. USAID Democracy Fellows and Grants Program

(http://www.iie.org/Programs/USAID-Democracy-Fellows-and-Grants-

Program/Fellowship#.V0ik-_krLct)

Fellowships offered through USAID’s Democracy Fellows and Grants Program place

experienced technical specialists within USAID to support USAID’s policy and programs in the

democracy, human rights, and governance fields. Fellowships become available according to

USAID’s needs and are advertised on the DFG website. To be notified of new Fellowships,

interested applicants are encouraged to join the DFG Mailing List.

Democracy Fellows represent a wide range of technical specialties and academic and

professional skills, in areas as diverse as transitional justice, disability rights, social media,

impact evaluation, and more. Visit the Current Fellows page to learn more about current Fellows

and their work on the DFG program.

The DFG program offers different types of Democracy Fellowships: full-time, part-time, and

short-term. The type of Fellowship depends on USAID’s specific needs, and is published with

each Fellowship opportunity. Full-time Democracy Fellows are hired as salaried IIE staff with

benefits; initial appointment is generally for one or two years, with the possibility of extension

dependent on performance and funding. Most short-term or part-time Fellows are hired as

consultants, allowing scholars or students with long-term commitments to other academic and

research institutions to contribute to building USAID’s technical leadership in democracy

promotion.

EE. Legal Aid of North Carolina, Clifton W. Everett, Sr. Community Lawyer

Fellowship (http://www.legalaidnc.org/give-help/fellowships/Pages/Clifton-W.-Everett-Sr.-

Community-Lawyer-Fellowship.aspx)

The Clifton W. Everett Sr. Community Lawyer Fellowship, established in 1992, offers one-year

staff attorney positions for recent law school graduates who are committed to serving low-

income North Carolinians in rural areas.

Everett Fellows begin their service every year in September, after they have graduated law

school and passed the N.C. Bar Exam.

Everett Fellows are selected based on their legal abilities and demonstrated commitment to social

justice. They must be dedicated to making the legal system responsive to those who have been

marginalized by both poverty and geography. They must be ready to accept the challenging and

rewarding tasks of a full-fledged attorney who serves rural communities.

Everett Fellows are responsible for handling a general caseload in the traditional areas of poverty

law practice on behalf of clients who live in rural areas. Types of cases usually involve housing,

employment, consumer, domestic and/or public benefits.

FF. Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Post-Graduate Fellowship

(http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.aabany.org/resource/resmgr/imported/NDS%20Fellow%20

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23

Posting%202012.pdf)

THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE OF HARLEM (NDS) is a community-based,

holistic public defender office located in Harlem. NDS represents residents of Northern

Manhattan who are charged with crimes who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Clients are

represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, and team

administrators. NDS also provides pre-arrest representation to clients under threat of arrest. NDS

adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened

responsiveness to clients’ needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the case

concludes.

NDS Fellows will assume the responsibilities of a Staff Attorney, representing clients on

misdemeanor cases. This includes appearing in court at clients’ arraignments, regular court

appearances, plea negotiations, hearings, and trials. NDS Fellows interview clients and their

families in the office or the local jails, conduct legal research, and write pre-pleadings, motions

and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients. NDS Fellows will also spearhead and

coordinate work performed by team members (investigators, social workers, team

administrators).

NDS is looking for recent law school graduates with a demonstrated commitment to criminal

justice and/or social justice issues. In addition, the job requires energy, enthusiasm, a

commitment to excellence, and an unwavering commitment to clients. Applicants must possess a

demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively through writing, and must have a

high level of organizational skills in order to represent many clients. Fluency in Spanish is

preferred, as is prior clinical, externship or internship experience in a public defender office.

NDS seeks recent law school graduates for a two-year post-graduate fellowship. This is a paid

fellowship and NDS is prepared to offer a competitive compensation package, including a strong

base salary as well as health, 401(k), and vacation benefits.

GG. NYC Housing Preservation & Development, Housing Fellows Program

(https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/about/employment.page)

The HPD-HDC Housing Fellows Program is designed to bring talented young professionals to

HPD and HDC to expose them both to the inner workings of New York City government and to

the field of affordable housing, with the goal of developing the next generation of affordable

housing leadership. The Fellowship provides a forum for the exchange of fresh and current ideas

with those who shape the City's housing policy through housing- and community development-

related lectures, site visits, hands-on policy work and mentoring.

The HPD-HDC Housing Fellowship is a two-year program, and individuals who are selected to

join the program make a two year commitment. Each class of Fellows is chosen following a

national search. Fellows must be recent graduates of schools of public policy, urban studies,

planning, management, law or a related field. In the first year, Housing Fellows rotate through

two five-month placements, learning firsthand about HPD’s efforts to revitalize New York City’s

neighborhoods through financing, including tax-exempt and taxable bonds; new construction;

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24

rehabilitation; code enforcement; housing litigation; outreach and loans to private owners. In the

second year, Fellows expand their time in a specific program area to encourage further growth by

choosing two half-year or one full-year placement. In addition to their work experiences, Fellows

participate in site visits and inspections to developments across New York City; meet with

housing leaders in government, business, nonprofit organizations and academia; and participate

in conferences, among other activities. At the end of the two year period, Fellows either secure

positions within HPD or HDC or move on to continue working in the field at other agencies or

organizations. Please note that neither HPD nor HDC can promise permanent employment at the

end of the program.

Selected applicants must become residents of New York City within ninety (90) days of

employment. Salary for Fellows is $60,000. Health care benefits begin 30 days after start of

employment.

HH. New New York Leaders Initiative, Empire State Fellows Program

(http://www.dos.ny.gov/newnyleaders/fellows_app.html)

The Empire State Fellows Program is a full-time leadership training program that will prepare

the next generation of talented professionals for careers as New York State policy-makers. The

incoming class of Empire State Fellows will serve from September 2016 to September 2018. At

the end of the Fellowship, a performance review process will identify Fellows that will be given

the opportunity to continue to serve as leaders in New York State government after completing

the program.

Engagement in the work of New York State government lies at the heart of the Empire State

Fellows Program. Governor Cuomo appoints each Empire Fellow to work directly with a

Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, or other high-level policy maker. Each Empire Fellow

works at a state office or agency, such as the Empire State Development Corporation, the

Department of State, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Labor, or in

the Governor’s Executive Chamber. Work assignments offer Fellows unparalleled experience

collaborating with senior officials and participating in the policy-making process.

While taking part in the work of government, Empire Fellows have the opportunity to participate

in educational and professional development programs that help them to serve as effective and

ethical government leaders. The educational component of the Empire State Fellows Program

will kick-off with a one-week course in September 2016. Educational coursework continues on a

semi-monthly basis. Meanwhile, professional development activities, including a breakfast

presentation series and mentoring by Cabinet members and other government leaders, enhances

Empire Fellows’ collaboration with policy-makers.

II. The White House Fellows Program (https://www.whitehouse.gov/participate/fellows)

Founded in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House Fellows program is one of America's

most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. White House Fellowships offer

exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the

federal government.

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25

Selected individuals typically spend a year working as a full-time, paid Fellow to senior White

House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries and other top-ranking government officials. Fellows also

participate in an education program consisting of roundtable discussions with renowned leaders

from the private and public sectors, and trips to study U.S. policy in action both domestically and

internationally. Fellowships are awarded on a strictly non-partisan basis.

JJ. Public Citizen’s Alan Morrison Supreme Court Assistance Project

(http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=6696)

Founded in 1972, Public Citizen Litigation Group is the litigating arm of the non-profit advocacy

organization Public Citizen. Litigation Group attorneys specialize in cases involving health and

safety regulation, consumer rights, access to the courts, class action standards, open government,

and the First Amendment, including issues involving online speech. The Litigation Group

litigates cases at all levels of the federal and state judiciaries, and its attorneys have argued 63

cases in the U.S. Supreme Court.

To augment its Supreme Court litigation, the Litigation Group operates the Alan Morrison

Supreme Court Assistance Project, named after the Group’s founder. The Project focuses on

helping small-firm practitioners, lawyers for non-profit organizations, and other lawyers with

little or no experience in Supreme Court litigation. The Project provides direct assistance to

lawyers before review is granted, either by helping with a petition for certiorari or a brief in

opposition, and provides assistance in cases in which review is granted, working with the

lawyers to prepare briefs and oral argument. In some cases, a Litigation Group attorney will

become the lead lawyer on the case.

Most of the cases on which we work are civil rather than criminal. Most of our work at the

petition stage involves assisting the party who won below in preparing an opposition to the

petition for certiorari, to keep the case out of the Court and thereby preserve a victory.

The Supreme Court Assistance Project fellow is a lawyer hired to coordinate the Project and

work on Supreme Court cases for one year, usually beginning in late August. The fellow reviews

all paid cert. petitions. Working under the direct supervision of the Litigation Group director, the

fellow makes an initial judgment about whether the case is of interest to the Project and prepares

a memo and recommendation about whether to offer assistance. Considerable legal research and

analysis are often required to determine whether assertions in the petition, such as a conflict

among the courts of appeals, are supportable. The fellow then makes an initial contact with the

attorney to whom help is being offered to explain the Project and the assistance that we can

provide. In addition, all cases accepted by the Court for full review are considered for possible

assistance by the Project. When an offer of help is accepted, a Litigation Group attorney assumes

principal responsibility for the case within the office.

The fellow participates fully in all aspects of the Project, including working on draft briefs at the

certiorari and merits stages. The fellow is also responsible for organizing and coordinating moot

courts for advocates appearing before the Court. We generally moot approximately 18 cases each

Term. The fellow also prepares an email on pending petitions of public interest to update

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subscribers before each Supreme Court conference. In sum, the fellow has the opportunity to be

involved with all aspects of Supreme Court litigation—from initial strategizing to brief writing to

moot courts.

KK. Public International Law & Policy Group, Pro Bono Law Fellow

(http://publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/work-for-us/)

PILPG accepts applications for postgraduate fellows to work in PILPG’s Washington, D.C. and

overseas offices. PILPG selectively accepts fellow applications for assistance in our offices on a

rolling basis and based upon client needs. PILPG only accepts fellows for full-time positions, for

a period greater than 6 months. Not all PILPG offices are available for fellowship placement.

PILPG fellowship or volunteer applicants must secure their own funding to work with PILPG.

PILPG does not compensate fellows for their assistance or provide benefits for PILPG law

fellows. If an applicant is interested in submitting a proposal to an organization with PILPG's

support, they must be first accepted as a fellow with PILPG before PILPG will support an

application for funding to a third party.

III. ACADEMIC FELLOWSHIPS

A. Social Science Research Council Abe Fellowship (http://www.ssrc.org/fellowships/view/abe-

fellowship/)

The Abe Fellowship is designed to encourage international multidisciplinary research on topics

of pressing global concern. The program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of

researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long-range importance and who are

willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network built around such

topics. It strives especially to promote a new level of intellectual cooperation between the

Japanese and American academic and professional communities committed to and trained for

advancing global understanding and problem solving.

Research support to individuals is at the core of the Abe Fellowship Program. Applications are

welcome from scholars and nonacademic research professionals. The objectives of the program

are to foster high quality research in the social sciences and related disciplines, to build new

collaborative networks of researchers around the four thematic foci of the program, to bring new

data and new data resources to the attention of those researchers, and to obtain from them a

commitment to a comparative or transnational line of inquiry.

Successful applicants will be those individuals whose work and interests match these program

goals. Abe Fellows are expected to demonstrate a long-term commitment to these goals by

participating in program activities over the course of their careers.

B. The American Academy in Berlin, Berlin Prize Fellowship

(http://www.americanacademy.de/home/fellows/applications)

The American Academy offers residential fellowships to emerging as well as established

scholars, writers, and professionals who wish to engage in independent study in Berlin. Around

two dozen Berlin Prizes are conferred annually. Past Berlin Prize recipients have included

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27

historians, economists, poets, art historians, journalists, legal scholars, anthropologists,

musicologists, public policy experts, and writers, among others. The Academy does not accept

project proposals in mathematics and the hard sciences.

In addition to placing a high priority on the independent work of its fellows, the Academy is in a

unique position to aid fellows in establishing professional and general networks both in Berlin

and beyond. The Academy’s public outreach, which facilitates the introduction of a fellow's

work to a wider audience, serves its mission of fostering transatlantic ties through cultural

exchange.

Fellowships are typically awarded for an academic semester or, in some cases, for an entire

academic year. Only the Bosch Fellowships in Public Policy may be for shorter stays of six to

eight weeks. Fellowship benefits include round-trip airfare, Academy accommodations, partial

board, and a stipend of $5,000 per month. The Academy’s furnished apartments at the Hans

Arnhold Center are suitable for individuals and couples; accommodations are available for

families with children at the Hans Arnhold Center or at nearby apartments. Fellows are expected

to reside at the Hans Arnhold Center during the entire term of the award.

Fellowships are restricted to candidates based permanently in the US. US citizenship is not

required, and American expatriates are not eligible. Candidates in academic disciplines are

expected to have completed a doctorate at the time of application. Applicants working in most

other fields – such as journalism, law, filmmaking, or public policy – must have equivalent

professional degrees. Writers must have published at least one book at the time of application.

Candidates should explain how their projects will benefit from a residency in Berlin, but they do

not need to be working on German topics.

C. Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship Program

(https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/fellowship-program/history-program)

The Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program is a scholarly community where individuals pursue

advanced work across a wide range of academic disciplines, professions, and creative arts.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowships are designed to support scholars, scientists, artists, and writers of

exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment who wish to pursue work in academic

and professional fields and in the creative arts. The Radcliffe Institute encourages applications in

all disciplines and on any topic. In recognition of Radcliffe’s historic contributions to the

education of women and to the study of issues related to women, the Radcliffe Institute sustains

a continuing commitment to the study of women, gender, and society. Applicants’ projects need

not focus on gender, however. Women and men from across the United States and throughout

the world, including developing countries, are encouraged to apply. We seek to build a

community of fellows that is diverse in every way. Former fellows of the Radcliffe Institute

(2000 to present) are not eligible to apply.

1. Selection Process

Each application is reviewed in a dual-tiered process by peers in relevant disciplines.

Applications are judged on the quality and significance of the proposed project and the

applicant’s record of achievement and promise. Applicants are notified of the results of

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28

the selection process in March. If circumstances change that make it impossible for you

to accept an offer from us, please let us know as soon as possible so we can withdraw

your application from consideration. In addition, if you are offered another fellowship,

you might want to contact us to let us know before accepting. Cluster proposals from two

to three individuals, all of whom fit the criteria status for individual applicants, will be

accepted for review. Cluster proposals are due by May 15, 2016.

2. Terms and Conditions

Stipends are funded up to $75,000 for one year with additional funds for project

expenses. Some support for relocation expenses is provided where relevant. We work

with fellows with families who have particular issues connected to relocating to smooth

the transition. If so directed, Radcliffe will pay the stipend to the fellow’s home

institution. Please note that we can only pay stipends to home institutions if they are US

based. Fellows receive office or studio space and access to libraries and other resources

of Harvard University during the fellowship year, which extends from early September

2017 through May 31, 2018. Visual artists and film and video artists may apply to come

for either one or two semesters. In the event that they come for one semester, the stipend

is $37,500. If you fall in this category and are interested in only coming for one semester,

please indicate that in your abstract. Fellows are expected to be free of their regular

commitments so they may devote themselves full time to the work outlined in their

proposal. Since this is a residential fellowship, we expect fellows to reside in the Boston

area during that period and to have their primary office at the Institute so that they can

participate fully in the life of the community.

Applicants will be notified by e-mail in March of the results.

D. Wilson Center Fellowship Program (https://www.wilsoncenter.org/fellowship-application-

guidelines)

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars aims to unite the world of ideas to the

world of policy by supporting pre-eminent scholarship and linking that scholarship to issues of

concern to officials in Washington.

The Wilson Center invites scholars, practitioners, journalists and public intellectuals to take part

in its flagship International Fellowship Program and to take advantage of the opportunity to

engage actively in the Center’s national mission. The Center awards approximately 15-20

residential fellowships each year. Fellows will be affiliated with one or more of the Wilson

Center programs/projects/offices and are encouraged to interact with policy makers in

Washington, D.C. as well as with Wilson Center staff and other scholars who are working on

similar research and topics.

The Center accepts policy-relevant, non-advocacy fellowship proposals that address key

challenges confronting the United States and the world. Priority will be given to proposals which

align with the programmatic work of the Center and can result in work that reaches a broad

audience. Within this framework, the Wilson Center supports projects that intersect with

contemporary policy issues and provide the historical and/or cultural context for some of today’s

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29

significant public policy debates.

While in residence, Fellows will be affiliated with regional and/or topical programs working on

issues that dovetail with the Fellows’ projects. Program and project directors often collaborate

with scholars in producing policy reports, op-eds, and other short written products and in

designing seminars, conferences, and/or meetings related to scholars’ research. Fellows are

required to give a Work-in-Progress presentation, an internal meeting where fellows can speak

about their work, share ideas, and receive feedback from their peers.

E. Georgetown University Law Center Research Fellowship

(https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/academic-programs/fellowships/research-

fellowships/index.cfm)

Georgetown Law is pleased to offer the Georgetown Law Research Fellowship for emerging

scholars who seek to pursue a law teaching career. We are seeking applicants with an aptitude

for independent legal research, as demonstrated by their work as students or by their professional

activities after law school.

There are no subject-matter restrictions on the research or teaching agenda fellows may pursue.

We expect that candidates will have widely varied intellectual interests, ranging across the full

spectrum of legal scholarship.

Research Fellows are required to be in residence at Georgetown for a two-year period. The

fellowship permits fellows to complete a full year of research and writing before they apply to

teaching positions. During a fellow's tenure at Georgetown, he or she will be expected to produce

at least one major academic piece of scholarship.

Each fellow works with two or more assigned mentors. The mentors will work closely with the

fellow in the development of his or her writing project or projects, as well as his or her teaching

at Georgetown.

In the first year of the fellowship, each Research Fellow will second chair a black-letter law JD

course in the area of his or her study. The course will be taught by a regular faculty member. As

second chair, the Fellow will attend classes, hold office hours and teach a few of the class

meetings. The goals are to familiarize the Fellow with a course that he or she is going to teach, to

provide some experience in the classroom, and to provide mentorship in the craft of teaching.

In the Spring semester of the Fellows second year at Georgetown (the fourth semester of the

fellowship), he or she will teach a 3-credit version of the same course in Georgetown’s LLM

program. The goal here is again to give the Fellow experience teaching a course that the Fellow

is likely to teach in his or her first academic job. The fourth semester is a period during which

fellows have typically already gone through the most taxing phase of the AALS hiring process.

During this period, the Fellow holds the title “Guest Lecturer.

Research Fellows are important participants in the Fellows Seminar and Workshops, and are

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30

expected to attend both for all four semesters of the fellowship. Research Fellows also have the

opportunity to attend scholarly symposia, lectures, and brown bag seminars for Georgetown Law

faculty, to audit any courses, and to participate in the other activities of the Georgetown Fellows

Collaborative.

F. National Institutes of Health, Department of Bioethics Fellowship

(http://www.bioethics.nih.gov/education/)

The Department of Bioethics is pleased to offer a limited number of two-year post-doctoral and

pre-doctoral (post-baccalaureate) fellowships. Our interdisciplinary department strives to create

an academic environment where our fellows have the opportunity to learn many aspects of

bioethics, as well as support to develop and implement an independent scholarship agenda, with

guidance from faculty mentors. Fellows participate in the activities and the intellectual life of the

department, and study ethical issues related to conduct of research, clinical practice, genetics,

and health policy.

Post-baccalaureate and post-doctoral fellows participate in weekly bioethics seminars, case

conferences, ethics consultations, and IRB deliberations, and have access to multiple educational

opportunities at NIH. Fellows conduct mentored conceptual and empirical research related to the

ethics of health policy, human subjects research, international research ethics, genetics, or other

bioethical topics of interest. For a typical fellow, this research yields multiple first-authored

publications in premier academic journals.

Fellowships are two years in length and stipends are based on the applicant's previous experience

and the current US government schedule. Past post-doctoral fellows have gone on to academic

careers in philosophy, medicine, law, science, health policy, political science, and related

departments; some are also active in legal practice, the medical field, and in government jobs.

Past pre-doctoral fellows have attended top graduate programs in numerous fields including

medicine, law, public health, health policy, psychology and sociology.

The department prides itself on being a diverse and interdisciplinary community. Fellows have

come from a variety of academic and social backgrounds and have pursued research on a wide

range of topics. An intellectual environment composed of such different points of view has

greatly added to the rigor and success of our program. Fellows are selected on the basis of their

previous academic achievements, commitment to scholarship, and the contribution they are

likely to make in the field of bioethics.

G. NYU Global Fellows Program (http://www.law.nyu.edu/global/globalvisitorsprogram)

The Global Fellows Program brings academics, practitioners, government officials and

postdoctoral scholars from around the world to NYU for up to one year to conduct and present

their research for future publication.

The principal objective of the Global Fellows Program at NYU School of Law is the production

of scholarship through the advancement of research. We have a notable history of hosting

distinguished scholars, judges, lawyers and government officials who wish to spend time

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31

advancing their scholarship and engaging in the intellectual life of the Law School. Fellows are

welcome to participate in academic activities such as fora, lectures, colloquia, seminars and

conferences. They are also invited to various social events, including some organized specifically

for global fellows and others aimed at the broader community.

Through the Global Fellows Forums, Global Fellows share their research with colleagues,

students, and faculty and receive comment and feedback. In this way, they contribute to the

intellectual life of the Law School and provide an opportunity for the community to learn about

current law research from a global perspective and in a wide range of topics. The primary goal of

the Global Fellows Program is the enhancement of research and it is expected that participation

in the Program will result in a substantial publishable piece of scholarship.

In recent years, we have introduced a specialized postdoctoral programming component designed

especially for our Post-Doctoral Global Fellows (fellows who have attained their doctoral

degrees within the past four years and who have not yet secured a tenure-track academic

appointment at an institution), in partnership with the JSD program, to provide opportunities for

the presentation of works-in-progress and the exploration of methodological questions in legal

research.

The Global Fellows Program continues to reach out to universities around the world to

encourage application and participation in this program. Past Global Fellows have gone on to

become well-respected scholars in their area of expertise and have been invited back to the Law

School as Global Law Faculty. Potential fellows are encouraged to review the extensive course

offerings, colloquia and special events on this and the Law School's web site to better understand

the ways in which they may be enriched by their time at NYU School of Law and the Law

School enriched by them.

H. Georgetown Law Center for the Constitution Fellowship

(https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-

institutes/constitution/fellowships.cfm)

The Georgetown Center for the Constitution Fellowship is designed for a highly-qualified law

graduate who intends to pursue an academic career. We seek applicants who have shown an

aptitude for independent scholarly research, as demonstrated by their scholarly work in law

school, research related to other graduate degree programs, and/or their professional activities

after law school.

During their residence at Georgetown, Fellows are expected to produce significant scholarship

for publication and teach a seminar on the subject of their research as a Visiting Lecturer. The

Fellow will also contribute to the intellectual life of the Center by participating and guest

lecturing in various constitutional law courses at Georgetown, and will have the opportunity to

take part in the Georgetown Law Fellows' Collaborative in preparation for the academic job

market. The position is designed for individuals intending to enter the legal academic job market

within two years.

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32

The Fellow will be in residence at Georgetown Law for a two-year period. The Fellowship

permits Fellows to complete a year of research and writing and to teach a seminar before

applying for teaching positions during their second year. During the Fellow's tenure at

Georgetown, he or she will be expected to produce at least one major academic piece of

scholarship. The Fellow will be mentored by the faculty associated with the Center, working

closely with his or her mentors in developing the major writing project.

The Fellow will also be expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Center in a

meaningful way by participating, where appropriate, in ongoing Center projects. This will

include attending and participating in Center programs. The Fellow will also have the

opportunity to attend scholarly symposia, lectures, and brown bag seminars with Georgetown

Law faculty, and to participate in the Georgetown Fellows' Collaborative, described below.

I. New York University School of Law, Law and Economics Fellowship

(http://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/laweconomics/scholarshipsfellowshipsandprizes/postgrad

uatefellowships)

The NYU Center for Law, Economics, and Organization has a post-graduate fellowship for

students who have either obtained a JD or have obtained or nearly obtained PhD in Economics

and have a strong interest in law. These fellowships are designed to support future legal

academics interested in law and economics, broadly defined.

Candidates must have the strongest academic credentials and show substantial promise of

becoming outstanding law and economics scholars. Fellows will have the opportunity to spend

one year in residence at NYU Law where they will pursue their scholarly agendas and participate

in the Law School’s intellectual life, and particularly in the broad range of law and economics

seminars, workshops, colloquia, and conferences at NYU.

Fellows are required to be in residence at the law school and to attend the NYU Law and

Economics Faculty Workshop, as well as the Colloquium in Law, Economics and Politics (fall)

and Colloquium in Law and Economics (spring). Law and Economics Fellows are expected to

produce a serious work of scholarship that will position them to enter the job market for a full-

time academic appointment at a major law school.

Fellows will receive a stipend, anticipated to be around $60,000, as well as fringe benefits,

including health insurance, housing assistance, and space to work at the law school.

J. University of Chicago Law School, Harry A. Bigelow Teaching Fellowship

(http://www.law.uchicago.edu/bigelow/howtoapply) Each year the University of Chicago Law School awards six Harry A. Bigelow Teaching

Fellowships. The Fellows’ primary responsibility is to design and carry out a program of tutorial

instruction for first-year students. The Fellowships also offer recent law school graduates an

opportunity to prepare for an academic career. Fellows can pursue scholarly interests, attend

workshops, and interact with the faculty and audit courses or seminars. The Bigelow program

has been very successful in placing its fellows in tenure-track academic positions in law schools.

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33

K. Columbia Law School Associates in Law Program

(http://web.law.columbia.edu/careers/associates-in-law)

While in residence, associates teach legal research and writing, write scholarly articles, attend

moot job talks, critique one another’s work, attend faculty workshops, and otherwise prepare to

go on the law teaching job market. The program has a long and successful track record of placing

associates in tenure-track academic positions in law schools. (For a list of current associates,

please visit the Current Associates in Law page.)

1. Teaching

The associates’ first responsibility is to teach Legal Research and Writing to small, fall-

semester sections of first-year J.D. or LL.M. students. Under the supervision of Ilene

Strauss, director of legal writing programs, associates develop written assignments, teach

in the classroom, and engage students through one-on-one critiques. A commitment to

excellence in teaching is an important criterion in selecting associates. Note that at

Columbia Law School, associates’ teaching is concentrated in the fall semester; the

spring semester is reserved exclusively for the associates’ own scholarly pursuits.

2. Community

The associates’ second responsibility is to one another, to help the community of fellows

develop their scholarship and prepare for the job market. The associates and other fellows

comprise a remarkable community of scholars within the Law School. Each week, this

community meets at the Fellows' Workshop, a unique, supportive institution created and

run by the associates. At the workshop, fellows present works-in-progress or practice job

talks in a low-stakes and collegial setting.

3. Resources

The Law School offers abundant and varied support to associates: informal faculty

mentoring; office space and a research budget; full access to faculty workshops,

academic activities, libraries, and research facilities; and tuition exemption for those

interested in pursuing graduate legal study. Associates also benefit from the Law

School’s Careers in Law Teaching Program, which includes informational panels, advice

and counseling throughout the academic job search, and a moot job talk in front of full-

time faculty members.

4. Compensation and other requirements

In 2015–2016, associates will be appointed as Postdoctoral Research Scholars and part-

time Lecturers in Law.* Absent special circumstances, associates serve for two years,

beginning on July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2017. Compensation for 2015-16 will be

$50,000 (annual rate) plus fringe benefits. Associates will be eligible for subsidized

housing. In addition, associates who spend the bulk of the summer after their first year

working on their research will receive $5,000 over the course of the second year.

IV. LAW SCHOOL CLINICAL FELLOWSHIPS

Clinical fellowships are designed to offer the graduate the ability to learn how to teach law in a clinical

setting or work on legal research projects. Strong academics are a must and most require relevant experience

post-law school. Current Bar membership may also be a requirement. Some examples of entry-level clinical

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34

fellowships include the following:

A. Domestic Violence Clinic Graduate Teaching Fellowship

(https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/academic-programs/clinical-programs/our-

clinics/domestic-violence-clinic/dc-clinic-fellowships.cfm) This offers a two-year teaching fellowship in the Domestic Violence Clinic at the Georgetown

University Law Center. Candidates must be barred at the time the application is submitted in

order to be eligible (third-year law students are ineligible). Clinical and/or litigation plus

exceptional academics are a must for this and all Georgetown clinical fellowships. Occasionally

there is also a two-year clinical fellowship available in the International Women’s Human Rights

clinic. Law school graduates can apply at any time; there is no cap on the amount of time

following law school when you can apply.

B. Georgetown University Law Center, Street Law Graduate Teaching Fellowships

(https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/academic-programs/clinical-programs/our-

clinics/DC-Street-Law-Program/Street-Law-Fellowships.cfm) The Street Law program of Georgetown University Law Center is seeking applications for the

Street Law Fellowship for the 2016-2018 academic year. The Street Law Fellowship is a two-

year position for a JD graduate to assist in the instruction, supervision and administration of the

Street Law Program, leading to an LL.M in Advocacy.

Since 1972, the Street Law Program has provided law-related educational services in the District

of Columbia public high schools, correctional facilities and other community centers. Street

Law's purpose is to provide law-focused education to laypersons while also aiding in the

professional development of the law students who teach the Street Law classes. The program

seeks to provide a greater understanding of the law to those outside the legal profession and to

promote the use of interactive educational methods to develop academic, critical thinking, and

civic skills.

C. UCLA Law Public Interest Fellowship (http://www.cleaweb.org/Jobs/4025283) UCLA School of Law is seeking applications for a two-year administrative position as a Public

Interest Fellow. The Fellow will work with UCLA School of Law’s Office of Public Interest

Programs (OPIP) to expand OPIP’s programmatic work, including by engaging in career

counseling and teaching a course for first-year law students enrolled in the School of Law’s

David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy (Epstein Program).

1. Major responsibilities over the two-year fellowship term include:

i. Counseling students seeking summer and/or postgraduate public interest

employment.

ii. Reviewing student application materials, including, e.g., resumes, cover letters,

and postgraduate fellowship applications.

iii. Conducting mock job interviews.

iv. Writing and editing job search guides on specific public interest career practice

areas and developing other job search materials for students seeking public

interest opportunities and careers.

v. Teaching the First-Year Epstein Program Workshop, a for-credit course offered

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35

exclusively for firstyear students enrolled in the Epstein Program.

vi. Helping plan and provide logistical support for OPIP and Epstein Program

programming and events, including, e.g., the Epstein Program annual speaker

series, job search-related programming, visiting public interest lawyers, panels

discussions, community-focused trainings and convenings, and conferences.

2. Qualifications:

Candidates should have at least five years of professional experience as an attorney in

public interest practice (more preferred); advanced knowledge of public interest practice,

including diverse forms of public interest modes of advocacy and public interest practice

settings, career paths in public interest practice, and funding sources; excellent writing

and analytical skills, as well as interpersonal and oral communication skills;

and experience counseling, supervising, and/or mentoring law students working in a

public interest capacity.

D. UCLA Law Binder Clinical Fellowship Program (https://law.ucla.edu/academics/clinical-

and-experiential-programs/binder-clinical-fellowship-program/) The Binder Clinical Fellowship Program offers opportunities for clinical teaching and research

designed to prepare the fellow to seek a permanent clinical faculty position at a law school. The

fellowship position typically has a two-year term. In the fall and spring semesters of the first

year, the fellow co-teaches and acts as supervising lawyer in existing clinics and/or clinical skills

courses. A member of UCLA’s clinical faculty is the primary teacher for the courses, and

mentors the fellow in UCLA’s tradition of practical training grounded in theories of

lawyering. During the following summer, the fellow is expected to be fully engaged with a

scholarly research project. The law school provides research support and faculty mentoring on

legal scholarship. In the second year, the fellow is expected to complete the research project for

publication and teach or co-teach one clinical course each semester.

E. Yale Law School, Cover Fellowships (https://www.law.yale.edu/studying-law-yale/clinical-

and-experiential-learning/jerome-n-frank-legal-services-organization-lso/cover-fellowships) The Cover Fellowship Program seeks to attract lawyers with two to five years of practice (or

equivalent experience) who are interested in a long-term career in law school clinical teaching.

Each fellowship starts during the summer and lasts for two years, with a stipend of about

$46,000 per year. One new Cover Fellow is selected each year.

The LSO Cover Fellowship Program provides time for research and writing as well as

representing clients, community outreach, trainings and classes, and supervising students.

Fellows typically choose to concentrate their work in one or two of the clinics offered by Yale

Law School’s Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization. Fellows are also encouraged to

audit courses within the academic curriculum.

1. Robert M. Cover Fellowship in Public Interest Law

The Robert M. Cover Fellowship in Public Interest Law is a two-year position in the Yale

Law School clinical program. The Fellowship is designed for a lawyer with at least two

years of practice who is considering a career in law school clinical teaching.

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36

2. Robert M. Cover-Allard K. Lowenstein Fellowship in International Human Rights Law

This fellowship is a two-year position for lawyers with international human rights or

other relevant experience who are interested in preparing for a career in human rights

practice or human rights clinical teaching. The Fellow will help supervise the Allard K.

Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic and coordinate activities of the Orville H.

Schell, Jr. Center for International Human Rights.

3. San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project

Yale Law School’s San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) and Robert M.

Cover Fellowship Program offer a post-graduate fellowship for lawyers who are

interested in a long-term career in law school clinical teaching or public lawyering. The

Fellowship starts during the summer and lasts for one year, with a stipend of about

$46,000 per year plus health benefits. One new SFALP Cover Fellow is selected each

year.

V. INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS There are a variety of post-graduate fellowships that allow recipients to work on international issues: in

the U.S. and abroad. Some of these are not legal fellowships per se but are good opportunities to work

on law-related issues through non-governmental organizations, universities and, in some cases, U.S.

government agencies.

A. Resources for International Fellowships 1. See the OPICS Post-Graduate International Fellowships (http://www.psjd.org/2015-

2016_Comprehensive_Fellowship_Guide) compiled by the Office of Public Interest and

Community Service at Georgetown University Law Center

2. Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities compiled by Robert

Kaplan, Paula Nailon and Beth Kirch for the NALP Annual Education Conference

(www.nalp.org/assets/142_intpsopps.pdf)

VI. LAW FIRM FELLOWSHIPS So too, law firms offer a wide-range of opportunities for graduating seeking entry-level employment.

These fellowships take a variety of forms. For example, some public interest law firms offer one-two

year fellowships that enable recent graduate to serve as associates focused on a public interest docket.

Other firms enable splits between non-profit organizations and public interest organizations.

A. Relman & Associates (www.relmanlaw.com) Relman & Associates is a small firm in Washington, DC that offers one recent graduate the

opportunity to litigate important civil rights cases with experienced practitioners. The fellowship

was created to further Relman’s mission of providing clients with legal services of the highest

quality while promoting social justice through vigorous enforcement of civil rights laws.

B. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobsen (www.ffhsj.com) In 1995 and 1997 respectively, Fried Frank founded the Mexican American Legal Defense and

Educational Fund and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Fellowship Programs.

Each fellow spends two years in Fried Frank’s New York litigation department and then,

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37

depending on the fellowship, spends two years as a staff attorney with either LDF or MALDEF.

Upon successful completion of the four-year fellowship, fellows may return to Fried Frank with

full seniority.

C. Covington & Burling Howard C. Westwood/NLSP (https://www.cov.com/en/pro-bono) For 35 years, Covington’s Washington office has offered an opportunity to do a six-month

rotation with a community legal services organization. Covington is especially proud of its

rotation programs in Washington, D.C. Each year, we loan eight associates and two paralegals to

work for six months at local legal services organizations, including at the Neighborhood Legal

Services Program in D.C., where the firm pioneered the loaned associate model in 1969, Bread

for the City, and the Children’s Law Center.

D. Holland & Knight Chesterfield Smith (http://www.hklaw.com/id44/) A fellow joins the firm’s Community Service Team, working for two years with a designated

organization in one of the cities in which the firm has an office. The firm’s goal is to have the

fellow join the firm as a third-year associate.

E. Hunton & Williams Pro Bono Fellowships

(https://www.hunton.com/Pro_Bono_Fellowships/)

In response to federal budget cuts and other reductions in funds for Legal Aid Services, Hunton

& Williams maintains two pro bono fellowship positions for attorneys whose time is entirely

committed to pro bono work. Each Fellowship is a two-year position and is a valuable

opportunity for young lawyers pursuing a career in public service. As a member of the litigation

team, each Fellow spends a great amount of time in the courtroom and serves as a useful

resource for other attorneys seeking assistance on pro bono matters. There are two fellowship

programs, one in Richmond, Virginia that recruits candidates on even-numbered years, and the

other in Atlanta, Georgia that recruits candidates on odd-numbered years. The fellowships were

enhanced in 2004 to provide $10,000 each year for law school debt repayment.

1. Atlanta Pro Bono Fellow

The Atlanta fellow represents indigent clients in all aspects of the Hunton & Williams

Atlanta pro bono practice, including; assisting clients with relative caregiver adoptions,

child custody and support, divorce, domestic violence, guardianships, estate planning,

immigration law, and representation as Guardian ad Litem for children in custody

disputes, abuse and neglect proceedings, and also for those children who appear before

the Juvenile Court on charges of status offenses.

2. Richmond Pro Bono Fellow

The Richmond fellow dedicates a large percentage of their time to Church Hill

neighborhood office matters and the other portion of their time to matters handled

through the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. Fellows have primarily handled divorce,

custody and guardian cases, child and spousal support appeals, housing cases, asylum and

adoption cases. While the substantial portion of legal work is performed for Central

Virginia Legal Aid, it is expected that the fellow is fully integrated into Hunton &

Williams, with all the normal opportunities available for legal training, associate

development, and social participation.

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38

F. Gibbons P.C., John J. Gibbons Fellowship (http://www.gibbonslaw.com/culture/gibbons-

fellowship/)

The Gibbons Fellowship, originally conceived as a 5-year commitment celebrated its 25th

anniversary in 2015, litigating the most significant legal issues of our time -- from the death

penalty to same-sex marriage, from the rights of detained enemy combatants at Guantánamo and

elsewhere (including the right of the public to know about their treatment) to equal funding for

education, from the law of domestic violence to the rights of pregnant women.

The Gibbons Fellows, under the direction of Lawrence S. Lustberg, long-time director of the

Gibbons Fellowship program, undertake public interest and constitutional law projects and

litigation. Requests for representation or advice are considered from all sectors, public and

private, including public interest organizations, legal services or public defender offices,

government agencies, private non-profit corporations, courts and individuals. Working with a

broad cross-section of public interest groups, the Fellowship Program has become widely known

in New Jersey and nationally as a voice for the poor and underrepresented.

Unlike traditional legal services projects or law firm pro bono programs, the Fellowship Program

is able to tackle public interest issues of major importance and to provide the resources and

continuity of personnel to pursue projects to conclusion. The Gibbons Fellowship is also unique

among fellowship programs in the breadth of legal issues addressed. The Program brings

together the experience and knowledge of Mr. Lustberg, the dedication and talent of Fellowship

recipients, and the professional resources and experience of Gibbons P.C. Centered in Newark,

New Jersey, the Fellowship Program is an ideal vehicle to address urban issues, individual rights

and social concerns.

G. Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger (http://www.smwlaw.com/hiring/fellowships) The firm offers a three-year fellowship for highly qualified recent law school graduates, public-

interest fellows, and judicial clerks. Fellows function as the junior associates of our firm and gain

hands-on experience and instruction in environmental, land use, and administrative law by

conducting research, writing briefs and memoranda, meeting with clients, attending

administrative hearings, and appearing in court once admitted to practice in California.

VII. FELLOWSHIP PROPOSALS: Components and Criteria The format and specific requirements for each fellowship are different, but they all want the same

information. You are future lawyers and should be sure you are making a compelling argument as to

why they should fund you, and be sure that you are following the specifications and directions outlined

in each fellowship application. This section will talk about application materials and what fellowship

funders are seeking in an application

A. Components As with other areas of law, every fellowship wants the same information in different formats.

Every fellowship focuses on different criteria. Some focus on grades more than experience,

others focus on your passion and commitment to the work over your academic credentials.

However, all funders take into account a variety of qualification, including your academic

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

39

credentials and experience. Law firm funders tend to base some of their criteria on those they use

for hiring associates. Some nonprofits are more interested in your practical experience and

passion for their work. Be diligent and take the time to research each fellowship carefully and try

to gain some insight into what the funders are looking for in an applicant. Past fellows and

faculty can be great resources for this task.

1. Personal Narrative

Several applications require an essay describing your public interest devotion and

experiences. In the absence of a specific requirement, those items should still be

addressed in your cover letter. Regardless of the format, you should aim to persuade the

funder of your commitment, skills and interest. The narrative breathes life into your

application and allows the reader to get a sense of whom you are.

2. Resume

A resume is a marketing piece that you can use to highlight your commitment to public

service. You should include your qualifications for a specific fellowship, especially if

your narrative has a word limit. For these specific fellowships, you can be less concerned

with the one-page rule and more focused on including all of your public sector work

experience, community service, volunteer experience and other public interest activities.

Do not hesitate to go back to college activities, and even significant high school service

can be included. The more detailed you are, the more you demonstrate your commitment

to a long-term public interest career path. However, if your resume is not filled with these

types of activities, you can still balance that by drafting a very detailed narrative that

demonstrates your knowledge and commitment to public interest.

3. Recommendations

Letters of recommendation are many times required for project-based fellowships. Some

others will ask for a list of references and will expect that at least one law professor and

one previous employer will be on the list. The best recommenders are ones that can

discuss your personal strengths and the quality of your work in detail. It is also helpful if

your recommender can spotlight some of your skills and traits that make you the ideal

fellowship candidate. If you are a self-starter, work well independently and have good

rapport with clients; that is important for the funders to know. Be sure to talk with your

recommenders before you apply for fellowships; be sure to explain why you want a

fellowship and how this can springboard your career. Make sure each recommender has a

copy of your resume, description of your fellowships and explanation of the type of work

you will be doing. If there is anything you specifically want them to highlight, let them

know that. It can also be helpful to give them a copy of your completed application

package.

Project-based fellowships that require you to have a sponsoring organization often ask for

a letter of support from that organization. This letter should provide the organization with

a prime opportunity to reinforce their support of your candidacy. It can be beneficial if

they highlight portions of your personal statement or project proposal. The sponsor can

reaffirm its commitment to having you work at its organization and emphasize the gap

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

40

you will be filling in that community. The letter should convey the sponsor’s strong

support for you, the skills and expertise you bring to the organization and a clear

understanding of the work you will be doing during the fellowship. The funders are very

concerned about the sponsor’s ability to provide supervision and training throughout the

duration of the fellowship and if these issues can be addressed in the sponsor’s letter, it

can strengthen the application.

4. Project Description (for project-based fellowships)

The project description or proposal is usually only required for project-based fellowships.

It is a very important aspect of these applications. The project proposal is the meat of

your application and gives you the opportunity to really lay out the project in a clear and

coherent manner. This piece is influential in the funder’s decision about whether to grant

you an interview. It should clearly outline the need of the target community, highlight

your ability to implement this project and demonstrate your knowledge and skill set in

this area of the law.

Be sure the problem is concrete and can be implemented during the timeframe of the

fellowship. It is important that the issues you address are not too broad and that the issues

are compelling. The plan must be realistic. The proposal should be your road map and job

description for the next two years. If you can incorporate community resources you will

draw upon, as well as resources within your sponsoring organization, it will strengthen

your proposal.

It is also vital that the proposal goals match your road map. You should include both

short- and long- term goals in the project description. If your goals are not well-defined

and are not clearly linked to your project plan, it will be hard to show the funder that this

is well-thought out and is worthy of funding over others.

B. Criteria: 1. Demonstrate your commitment to the community and issues served by your project.

The easiest way to demonstrate your commitment to your area of interest is to do work in

that area. Throughout law school you should be seeking clinical, internships and outside

placement opportunities at agencies and organizations that do the work you ultimately

want to do. If an organization already knows your work, then they will be more likely to

be willing to sponsor you for a fellowship. Even if they don’t sponsor you, odds are you

will get to know others at similar organizations that will get to know you and want to

sponsor you!

Many times the most successful applicants are able to demonstrate a direct connection

between the work they want to do and the community they want to serve. It is very

important to work in the community you are seeking a fellowship in prior to the process.

If you want to be in Miami, work in that legal community before applying for the

fellowship.

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41

2. Establish how your project will assist in providing vital assistance toward meeting an

unmet legal need in the community.

Be sure to do your due diligence. Make sure there is a substantial need for your project

before you go full-steam ahead. You probably want to focus on a specific community and

its issues rather than a national issue. If you are really interested in a national issue, try to

address that national issue on a smaller scale in one community. Remember your

internship is only two years, so you want to be sure you are devising a project that can be

up.

3. Ensure that your project fits within the parameters of a given fellowship funder:

Remember to evaluate the funder’s goals and mission. You want to be sure you are

suggesting projects that fit within their parameters. It is very important you convey in a

clear and concise manner the way in which your project fits within the funder’s goals.

Funders tend to frown on fellows being used as band-aids for more staff attorneys. It is

vital to your success that your project is new and creative and not a natural extension of

an already existing project within the organization, unless it has an innovative change or

expands to reach another population.

4. Establish that you and your organization are well matched and poised to launch the

proposed project.

It is crucial to the project’s success that your project and the organization be a good

match. Funders will carefully examine the organization’s financial stability, staffing

issues and community effectiveness when making a decision on a fellow.

Again, be sure to really do your research on all of the organizations in a community that

work on your issue area and be sure you are selecting to match with the best-suited

agency. If you are finding it difficult to locate a good match, it may be helpful to call the

funders and ask them where they have had fellows in the past do this type of work. It is

likely that if they funded an organization in the past it was a good fit. However, many

first-time sponsor organizations are selected every year. Just remember if you choose an

organization that has never had a fellow before, make sure to take extra time to highlight

their stability and accomplishments. It can also be very helpful to lay out in your

application how the organization will provide you with training and supervision.

VIII. CONSIDERATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE APPLICATIONS A. Drafting

Applying for post-graduate fellowships can be a long and arduous task. However, obtaining a

fellowship can be the start to a long and prosperous public interest career. It is very important to

set up an action plan for yourself to work through this process. Applying for fellowships is very

time-consuming and conducting the process in an organized and well though out manner is the

key to your success.

1. Be vigilant about deadlines

Despite what some people might think, fellowship deadlines come early and many are as

early as September of the year before the start date. Fellowship deadlines continue

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42

throughout the fall and into mid-spring. Therefore, you should really use the spring and

summer of your 2L year to learn as much about nonprofit organizations as you can and

the issue areas of interest to you. Plan to use at least one month (August) before the first

deadline to work on your personal statement and overall application. For project-based

fellowships, you will need to use the summer before your third year to identify a

cooperating and sponsoring organization.

2. Research Widely

Applying for a fellowship is a large investment in your time, talent and professional

reputation so make sure you are informed. Once you have identified compelling issue

areas, the type of work you want to do and the locations where you want to work, start

reading books and identifying the websites and nonprofit organizations that might fit your

criteria. See the Yale list of resources available as an appendix to this guide and on

www.pslawnet.org for information about preparing fellowship and grant applications as

well as books that assist in the search for fellowships.

3. Draft Carefully

As you do research, you will start to refine your ideas about the type of work you want to

do. It is helpful to keep a chart or spreadsheet that lists some key qualifications and

criteria for the fellowships you are considering. You will need to create a personal

statement at some point throughout the application process, so as you research it will help

to jot down paragraphs about your goals, work experience, volunteer activities and other

experiences which have sparked your interest in a particular issue area in the public

interest field. Start thinking about and jot down notes about how your past has prepared

you for a fellowship with a particular organization. Although these notes may not be well

thought out and complete; they will help you down the road to build your personal

statements.

Additionally, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Before you draft portions of your

application about the sponsoring organization’s missions and goals, you should consult

with the development and marketing departments of the organizations. Many times they

have already drafted goals and mission statements you can use and incorporate into parts

of your application.

Fellowship funders are not much different from general employers. Funders want fellows

who are goal-oriented, have a strong personality and a deep connection to their goals and

mission. Your ability to clearly articulate these goals to the funder will help you convey

why you are a good fit and asset to your sponsoring organization.

B. Networking It is important to network with people who may be familiar with particular organizations or

fellowships of interest to you. Current and former fellows, faculty members, career development

staff and other public interest and government attorneys who work in your,

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43

Do not hesitate to seek out people with whom you do not have a personal connection.

Remember, people in this field ultimately want to see other quality people enter the public

interest field and are often willing to do what they can to help new attorneys.

C. Selecting a Sponsor In order to ensure you have a good fellowship experience, you want to ascertain from past

fellows or close networking contacts several pieces of information about the organizations you

are considering. Some of those important pieces of information are:

1. General Questions

i. Is the organization well run? Will you be able to do the work you want, with

adequate supervision?

ii. Is the organization financially stable?

iii. Is the organization appropriately staffed? Will the people you meet now still be

there to mentor you in a year or two?

iv. How well do the organization’s goals and values match your own?

v. For organizational fellowships – what are the nature and purpose of the

fellowship, along with the key qualifications of a candidate

2. Specific Questions for Project-Based Fellowships

i. How familiar is the organization with the project-based fellowship application

process?

ii. Is a staff member available to work with you on the application?

iii. How closely does your project fit with the organization’s mission and current

activities?

iv. Does the organization have a specific idea for a project already?

v. How enthusiastic is the organization about you and your project?

vi. Do they plan to sponsor a number of candidates – if so where do you rank?

Don’t let not having a project scare you! Remember you do not have to have a well-developed

project in mind before you approach contacts. Many times if you have a general idea and areas of

interest, people who work in your areas of interest can suggest project ideas. Additionally, many

organizations have project ideas and just need to find a good fellow candidate to fit their project.

IX. INTERVIEWING TIPS: 8 Tips from PSJD Do mock interviews! Participating in mock interviews (which can be set up throughyour career services

office) will help you identify areas, which may require morepreparation and calm your nerves by

giving you a sense of how an actual interview will progress. A. Enthusiasm and confidence are palpable. An interviewer perceives these characteristics

immediately, and they set the stage for a fluid conversation instead of a more formal “interview

interrogation” format.

B. Most interviewers want to know the forest (you), not just the trees (your skill set). Employers want to know who you are as a person, and why you are motivated to pursue public

interest work with their organization. Remember that employers are not just hiring a unit of

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44

labor; they are hiring someone with whom they will interact and collaborate.

C. Think broadly when researching the employer organization. Many job seekers research

employer organizations’ websites and memorize facts/figures (“there are so many attorneys on

staff, so many in this particular unit, etc.”). These facts are certainly useful, but remember to step

back and look at the larger public interest community in which the employer operates: who it

collaborates with, how it is funded, does it have a longer-term strategic plan.

D. Have a demonstrated commitment to the employer’s mission. While academic credentials do

matter, it is equally – and sometimes, more – important that you can demonstrate a commitment

to the organization’s mission through things like past work experiences, clinic participation,

volunteerism, and course selection.

E. Be prepared to discuss weaknesses. If asked about a weakness in your resume (bad grade),

explain it but don’t dwell on it. If asked to discuss what you perceive to be a weakness in

yourself, show a self-awareness of that weakness AND talk about concrete ways that you act to

correct it and prevent it from hindering your work.

F. Be prepared for hypothetical questions. Good interviewers will want to see you think on your

feet. Sometimes the hypos are designed without any good outcomes available. Do not be afraid

to pause to compose your thoughts while processing a question.

G. Prepare Good interview questions. Always be prepared to ask the interviewer questions.

Below are some examples:

1. What drew your interviewer to the organization?

2. What do they find to be the most challenging facet of their work?

3. What are three things do they find rewarding about their work?

4. What attributes are required to successfully do the job you’re applying for? (This may

present a chance to further sell yourself by noting that you possess them.)

5. What is the supervisory and/or evaluation structure for your position?

H. Always send a thank you note/email. This does not need to be long, but be sure to include a

line that will remind the interviewer(s) of a highlight during your interview.

Visit PSJD for more information on public interest interviewing and other job search fundamentals:

https://www.psjd.org/Career_Central.

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45

APPENDIX A

I. SKADDEN FELLOWSHIP QUESTIONS A. The Project

1. Tell me about your project.

2. Why did you choose the project?

3. How did you come up with this project?

4. Why is a lawyer needed to accomplish the goals of the project? How is it different from

social work?

B. Need/Organization/Type of Work

1. Why this project? What’s the need?

2. Why this organization?

3. What type of work is NOT included in your project? If there are issues that have not been

addressed in the project proposal, you may need to explain why you have excluded them.

4. How will you connect and work with other organizations doing similar work?

5. What is an example of a typical case you might work on? Walk us through a hypothetical

client case.

C. Overcoming Challenges

1. If you encounter a problem in your project, whom will you turn to?

2. Why do you want to do this? Do you have a personal connection to this issue?

3. Have you considered some of the details and obstacles you’ll face?

4. How prepared are you to serve your proposed group?

5. How will you avoid burnout?

6. How will you measure outcomes? Is this an intractable problem? If so, how will you

make a difference?

7. How do you respond to the fact that there is little money – in this economy – to fund this

kind of work?

D. You and your vision

1. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

2. Why [this geographic location]? Or, why wouldn’t this project be better if funded

somewhere else?

3. What legal theories will you use for your work?

4. Why do you want to do public interest work?

5. Who is your role model and why?

6. What is the long-term impact that your project will have – beyond individual clients?

7. Questions about items on your resume (even the very last item!)

8. What is your "vision" for the project? Describe your project and its long-term impact.

9. Which is more effective - government work or nonprofit work?

10. How is the direct services component of your project going to work?

11. How will you reach out to/find potential clients?

12. Do you want to run for political office?

13. What are your language skills?

14. Boundaries question (how are you going to keep from taking one of your clients home?)

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15. What kind of supervision/mentoring will you have at your organization?

16. How do you keep from becoming angry at someone who is mistreating your client?

17. What would you do if you were the [head of agency in charge of your subject area]?

18. What will a typical day in your project look like?”

19. How are you going to deal with the emotional stress of such difficult issues?

20. How does this project fit in with state, national, local agendas/policies for [your target

clients/issue area]?

21. How do you think you will bridge the gap between yourself as a graduate of a top law

school and your clients, who come from very different backgrounds?

22. As a new lawyer with so many competing demands on your time or energy, when you

run across someone who is in the greatest of need and you don’t have the resources to

reach them, what do you do? How do you reach out to people who act as though they

don’t want help or refuse the help that is out there?

23. Why did you include [particular life experience or volunteer work] in your essays? Make

sure you have gone over the essays and project proposal several times before the

interview.

24. What will you do if you don't get this fellowship? Have you applied for other sources of

funding?

25. Why did you go to law school?

26. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

27. Questions about your particular issue area (i.e. domestic violence, special ed, etc).

28. Have you prepared for any questions we have not yet asked?

29. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your project?

30. Do you have questions for us?

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47

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS COMPARISON CHART

Program

Eligibility

Type of Work

Application Process

Award Amount

Deadline

Equal Justice

Works (EJW)

Graduating law

students, recent

law grads, or

experienced

attorneys who

demonstrate a

commitment to

public interest

law.

Fellows design

unique projects

that serve and

address a wide

range of legal

issues.

Equal Justice Works

reviews the applications

and selects projects that

can be matched with

potential sponsors.

Sponsors determine

whom they would like to

interview. Interviews are

scheduled on a rolling

basis during the fall and

winter. Likewise, offers

are made by the sponsors

on a rolling basis.

Equal Justice

Works will

provide up to

$41,000 toward

that salary level.

If the salary

exceeds $41,000,

then the

organization

must provide the

remaining

amount.

Mid-

September

Skadden

Foundation

(Skadden)

Recent law school

graduates or

outgoing judicial

law clerks.

Fellows create

their own projects

at public interest

organizations with

at least two

lawyers on staff

before they apply.

Must submit Fellowship

Application plus the

following: 1. Official

Law School Transcript 2.

Two Letters of

Recommendation from

Law School Professors

or Former Employers 3.

Commitment Letter from

Potential Sponsoring

Organization (and

brochure if available) 4.

501(c)3 Tax-exempt

Status Qualifying Letter

5. Resume

Before the final

application date, a public

interest organization

which will sponsor the

applicant must be

identified. The sponsor

must be a 501(c)3

organization which

provides civil legal

services to the poor.

Skadden

provides each

Fellow with a

salary and pays

all fringe

benefits to which

an employee of

the sponsoring

organization

would be

entitled.

Early

October

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

48

Soros

Advocacy Track

I: At least two

years of relevant

advocacy

experience, which

may include FT

and PT

employment; paid

or unpaid

internships;

longer-term

experience as an

advocate,

organizer or

researcher; or

other pertinent

experience (e.g.

advocacy while

incarcerated)

Projects are in

criminal justice

reform and may

range from

litigation to public

education to

coalition-building

to grassroots

mobilization to

policy- driven

research.

Online Submission.

Fellowship application

materials must be

submitted online. To

submit an online

application, go to

http://oas.soros.org/oas/

Complete applications

consist of the following:

Application Form,

Resume, Proposal,

Letters of

Recommendation, and

Host Commitment Letter

(if applicable).

Advocacy Fellowships

are 18 months in

duration, may be

undertaken in

conjunction with a host

organization, and can

begin in the spring or

fall.

Stipend of

$75,000

($50,000 for the

first year;

$25,000 for the

remaining six

months);

II. RESOURCES A. Public Service Jobs Directory (PSJD)

1. Searchable database of over 400 fellowships

2. Comprehensive Fellowship Guide

3. Application tips

B. Equal Justice Works (www.equaljusticeworks.org) 1. Application materials

2. A list of fellows from past years and where they worked

C. Harvard Guide: Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide 1. Volume I- United States

2. Volume II- International

D. Georgetown University Law Center, Office of Public Interest and Community Service –

“Post-Graduate Public Interest Fellowship Manual”

E. Yale Law School Career Development Office – “Fellowship Application Tips.” Available at

www.pslawnet.org

F. Georgetown’s List of International Fellowships

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

49

This list includes post-graduate international fellowships that are either based overseas or have

an international focus. While we will seek to keep this list updated, this list is not exhaustive.

G. Be sure to tap into the many resources available to you as Rutgers alumni including the Eric

alumni fellows, faculty, and thoughts on the interview:

1. It is very important to know as much as you can about the organization you are

interviewing withor your sponsoring organization.

2. Be sure to ask thoughtful questions, not things easily answered on the website

3. Read as much as possible about the organization including articles, press releases, and the

organization’s website

4. Talk to people who have worked at the organization or interned there in the past. It is

very important to get a feel for the work style of the organization and make sure it is a

good fit for you.

5. Many people get nervous at the interview stage. They have come very far and gotten

through many layers of review to get to this point. Remember to be yourself in the

interview. You should feel confident about your credentials and your project at this point.

The interviewers at this point are comfortable with your credentials and your project and

are really just looking for a good personality fit. This stage is not as much about proving

qualifications as it is to let your personality come through. Of course you should be

prepared to talk about anything including your project, credentials and other application

materials. But this is a time for them to see how well you know the organization and if it

is a mutually good fit.

III. ADVICE FROM SUSAN FEATHERS My advice can pretty much be summed up in one word: VOLUNTEER! I think that the key to obtaining

a public interest fellowships demonstrating your commitment to public interest work and making public

interest

Contacts through volunteering at a legal service provider or public interest group either over the summer

or on a part-time basis during the school year. Since competition for such internships (even unpaid ones)

can be keen, volunteering for a non-legal nonprofit organization can also demonstrate your commitment.

This may fit into your schedule better if you need to work at a paid position to defray the costs of your

legal education. For example, while I was working at a law firm, I volunteered at a local battered

women's shelter on one or two evenings each month and ultimately was offered a position at a domestic

violence legal clinic based at a law school.

I feel like my process sort of had a life of its own and I didn’t do too much except provide the right fit

for a project that my sponsoring organization already had in mind.

With regard to EJW, I think that the more common/popular the type of project, the more competition

POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS GUIDE

50

there is. But, that said, there are more funders willing to fund a children’s law project or environmental

law project than LGBT or reproductive rights projects. So, it’s a tradeoff.

APPENDIX B: Sample Proposal

Candidate Background

A. Personal Statement. Briefly describe in the first person your connection to the community with whom you

will work, how your personal background and experiences best suit you for the project and/or your unique

qualifications for this Fellowship project. Let your passion and commitment shine. (3300 characters, including

spaces):

My commitment to creating educational opportunities for youth stems directly from my experience attending a

large urban high school in New Haven, CT, that was neither rigorous nor safe. Upon enrollment, I quickly

became aware that students of low-income and ethnically diverse backgrounds, including many of my friends,

were not afforded quality educational opportunities despite their many talents. In fact, more than half of my

classmates never finished high school.

I was lucky enough to come from a family that compensated for my mediocre high school education and never

wavered in their expectation that I would go to college. At the same time, my family met Mark, a close friend of

my sister’s from school. Mark did not have a supportive family of his own. He never knew his father and his

mother was a drug addict. After shuffling between family members, Mark came to live with us for our final year

of high school. My parents supported and encouraged Mark and advocated for him at school. Mark eventually

gained his confidence, excelled at school and decided to attend college, something he never considered an

option.

These experiences sparked my interest in creating reform, equality and justice in education. Our schools should

always provide the highest quality education and expect the most from our youth, regardless of your

background.

In college my commitment to youth and education strengthened when I volunteered with a number of

community organizations working with children and youth – a crisis center for runaway youth, an after school

program for homeless children and Head Start. Again I saw how important supportive programs, high

expectations, and equality of opportunities were critical in a child’s life.

After graduating and moving to NYC, I counseled middle school children at a school in Brooklyn, where I

connected with my clients employing a client-centered, holistic, empowerment model. We encouraged youth to

take charge of their education and life using a strengths-based approach. It was during this time that I again

encountered first hand the issues that so many children face – low self-esteem, peer acceptance, sexuality,

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school phobia and learning disabilities as well as low performing, under funded and unsafe public schools. I

witnessed the critical importance of a quality education in mitigating the risk factors of urban youth and

providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

In an effort to work towards a better solution to urban education I accepted a position at Advocates for Children,

which further clarified the systemic issues in urban education while at the same time affirming my belief that

the legal system is an essential tool for affecting change, stimulating dialogue, and providing educational

opportunities for youth.

I have been working with children and youth since I was a youth myself. A graduate of the public school

system, I remain steadfast in my commitment to providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged and

underrepresented youth and their families. Over the years I have learned firsthand what a privilege – and

responsibility – it is to represent children and am eager to continue working to alleviate the struggles and

adversities of foster care youth.

B. Skills and Experience. Describe your public interest work, volunteer service, law school, clinical,

coursework or other relevant experience that has equipped you with the skills to accomplish the proposed

Fellowship project. (3300 characters):

Therefore, I accepted a position at Good Shepherd Services’ Crossroads Program, a dropout prevention program

for middle school students in Brooklyn. There I managed a caseload of fifty students, outreached to parents in

the community, and created many activities and programs. Within 18 months, I was promoted to site

coordinator responsible for all programming and school partnerships. Throughout my tenure at Crossroads I

honed my skills in project coordination, client and practitioner interface, active listening and patience, and

effective communication and engagement with youth and their families.

To foster my growing interest in larger systemic issues related to children and families, I joined the staff of the

Center for Court Innovation working on their Family Treatment Court project. The FTC model offers

alternatives to substance abusers involved in child neglect proceedings. I coordinated training workshops for

courts across New York State on best strategies in implementing the model. While at CCI, I learned how to

create effective training programs and gained valuable insight into the child welfare system in New York.

I missed working with clients directly and felt I needed to find a balance between direct client work and broader

social policy. I found that balance at Advocates for Children where I worked as an advocate on education issues

on behalf of children and families. I saw first hand how an appropriate education could create positive outcomes

in a child’s life. My work at AFC provided me with unique insight on the legal system’s capacity to address the

needs of underrepresented youth and decided to attend law school.

I enrolled in Rutgers Law School because of its commitment to public interest work. In recognition of my

dedication to public interest, I was selected as one of two Marsha Wenk Fellows. This allowed me to work at

the ACLU-NJ office for a semester and to participate in the Public Interest Committee at Rutgers and promote

public interest work at the school.

During the summer interned with the NJ Office of the Child Advocate, a watchdog of the NJ child welfare

system. In the spring, I worked in the Child Advocacy Clinic representing children in SSI hearings and as a Law

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Guardian for foster care children. My clinic work also included a community education project where I worked

with another student on writing a manual aimed at educating youth who are aging out of the foster care system

about their legal rights in NJ. In conjunction, I ran focus groups with transitioning foster care youth at group

homes and community organizations across NJ. This past summer I represented parents in neglect proceedings

for South Brooklyn Legal Services. I worked on all aspects of legal representation including writing motions

and affidavits, preparing examinations of witnesses, and appearing in court. All of these experiences furthered

my understanding of child welfare and improved my skills of engaging and communicating with youth.

Together my employment, internships and schooling have given me a broad range of experience by which I

believe I can be an effective, caring youth advocate and which makes me uniquely qualified to implement this

fellowship project.

Host Organization Background

o State the name and title of the host organization representative completing this section. Elisa Hyman,

Executive Director

o Describe how the particular project idea was conceived and how it relates to the overall mission and

current strategies of the organization. (1500 characters including spaces)

A report issued by AFC in 2005 revealed that there appeared to be a significant overrepresentation of children

in foster care that receive special education services in NYC. Although the IDEA provides incredibly strong

entitlements that can assist youth who are aging out of care, there is currently no targeted program that provides

educational advocacy to youth with disabilities who are aging out of the NYC foster care system.

This project would be completely unique and would provide the opportunity to work with one of the most at-

risk populations in the City. This is in direct alignment with AFC’s 35 year-old commitment to serve NYC’s

most vulnerable and disenfranchised youth, ensuring that they receive quality, equitable public education to

which they are entitled regardless of race, age, or socioeconomic background. This project was conceived based

on Ms. Rosenthal’s extensive experience working with foster care youth and the extreme need to provide

education legal services to transitioning youth.

Ms. Rosenthal worked with AFC as an advocate for two years. She supported attorneys on all aspects of client

representation, performing intakes, attending school and IEP meetings, reviewing records, and assisting in

preparing for administrative hearings. As a fellow she would expand upon her work by having full

responsibility for IDEA hearings, outreach, and trainings. Her work has always been of the highest quality.

A. Fellowship host organizations are required to provide thorough orientation, training, support and

supervision throughout the term of the Fellowship. Please answer the following questions related to

support:

o Who will be the Fellow’s primary supervisor and that individual’s position/title; Director of Legal

Services & Executive Director

o How many years of experience the supervisor has in

(i) The substantive area of the Fellowship project and

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(ii) As a supervisor in any capacity;

Ms. Rosenthal’s overall supervisor for individual advocacy would be the Director of Legal Services, Matthew

Lenaghan (a former EJW Fellow) who would provide daily supervision. Elisa Hyman, AFC’s Executive

Director, would oversee any impact advocacy work.

Ms. Hyman has fifteen years of litigation experience, eight of which have been in the area of special education

law and nine years of supervisory experience overall. She also has three years of family law experience.

Mr. Lenaghan has seven years experience in the substantive area, and both have been supervising staff at AFC

for over five years. All fifteen of AFC’s attorneys have substantive experience in special education law so there

is an extended network of support for Ms. Rosenthal.

o Whether the supervisor will be responsible for supervision of others aside from the Fellow, and if so,

how many;

In addition to Ms. Rosenthal, Mr. Lenaghan oversees 12 attorneys. However, it is important to note that these

attorneys possess several years of experience in public interest law and will not require the same level of

supervision as Ms. Rosenthal.

o How often the supervisor will meet with the Fellow. Supervisors are available daily for supervision. In

addition, there are weekly meetings that will be held to go over cases and strategies.

o State the number of total staff, including non-attorneys, in the office. There are 47 staff members in

AFC’s office, 20 of which are attorneys.

o If the project represents a new practice area for the organization, how substantive expertise will be made

available to the Fellow;

This area is not a new practice area, but rather a focused project for youth aging out of foster care.

B. Please indicate by checking the box of those items you plan to provide in the Fellow’s physical work

environment.

o Desk

o Office

o Cubicle

o Computer

o Phone

Describe the technology that will be available to the Fellow. Ms. Rosenthal will have access to her own desk,

a computer workstation that will include all Microsoft Office, Outlook 2003, and Internet Explorer. AFC uses

the TIME database system to track and log all casework.

C. Please provide specific plans for training during the fellowship, both skills-based and substantive.

Ms. Rosenthal would go through a training program at our office at the beginning of her fellowship and would

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participate in ongoing trainings at AFC and all relevant trainings from other organizations. We have staff

meetings every week at AFC, and approximately two per month feature skills-based and substantive training.

We would also send Ms. Rosenthal to trainings sponsored by Legal Services of New York, the Practicing Law

Institute, and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.