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What is a Fellowship?
A post-graduate fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to practice law for an organization that may not otherwise be hiring full-time attorneys. Through fellowships, attorneys work with a host organization on a specified project for a defined period of time (typically one or two years). The host organization provides an annual stipend, and in some instances benefits, including health care and loan repayment assistance. Post-graduate fellowships involve a wide-array of practice areas and projects, typically, but not always, with a focus on public interest practice.
The Fellowship Job Search
There are several kinds of post-graduate fellowships. Some require that the student develop a project and find a sponsoring organization (e.g. Equal Justice Works). Other fellowships are offered in conjunction with an LL.M. program (e.g., Georgetown University Law Center Appellate Litigation Fellowship); offered for specialized career development purposes (e.g., Columbia Law School Human Rights Law Teaching Fellowship); offered by private law firms (e.g., Skadden Fellowship); or offered in various substantive areas of law (e.g., National Center for Youth Law Fellowship).
Each Fall, PSLawnet publishes The Public Service Law Network Fellowship Guide, one of the most complete listings of fellowship opportunities. The Guide can be found in the Career Services Office, as well as online at www.pslawnet.org. In addition, check the CSO’s Job Postings for various fellowship opportunities that are posted throughout the school year. Many fellowships have September and October deadlines, so it is important to research opportunities early in your third year of law school, if not before then.
Overview of Certain Fellowships
Equal Justice Works
www.equaljusticeworks.org
Equal Justice Works (EJW) offers an innovative fellowship project that implements legal advocacy on behalf of individuals, groups or issues that are not adequately represented in the legal system. These two-year fellowships provide salary and loan repayment assistance, a national training program, and other forms of support and assistance to public interest lawyers who, working in conjunction with host nonprofit organizations, launch projects that serve low-income and other needy communities. As the nation’s largest postgraduate, public service, legal fellowship program, EJW has put scores of lawyers to work on some of the nation’s greatest challenges, such as homelessness, access to health care, consumer rights, domestic violence, community development, discrimination in housing and employment, workers’ rights, and children’s health and welfare issues.
Skadden Fellowship Foundation
www.skadden.com
The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue their desire to do public interest work. Therefore, the Fellows create their own projects before they apply. Fellowships are awarded for one year, with the expectation of renewal for a second year. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary (for the class of 2004, the salary was $37,500) and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those Fellows not covered by a law school income protection plan, the firm will pay a Fellow’s law school debt service for the duration of the fellowship.
Echoing Green Fellowship
www.echoinggreen.org
This fellowship includes a two-year $60,000 stipend ($30,000 per year), health care benefits, on-line connectivity, access to a network of social entrepreneurs, training and technical assistance. The stipend serves as seed money to start a new public service organization or an independent project. The proposed project can be domestic or international. The field of interest is not limited and the fellowship can support projects in all public service areas including, but not limited to, the environment, arts, education, health, youth service and development, civil and human rights, and community and economic development.
Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship
www.soros.org
The Open Society Institute’s Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship is designed to support individuals in their initiating of innovative projects designed to promote fair and equal treatment within the criminal justice system. The fellowship supports two-year projects implemented in conjunction with large or small non-profit organizations or government agencies whose mission is related to criminal justice. Fellowship applicants develop original proposals to be hosted by a partner organization. Fellowship terms and project areas change on an annual basis. Typically, Fellows receive a $37,500 stipend each year, plus $2,500 annually for professional development, $2,500 for health insurance, $6,000 annually for loan repayment, up to $1,200 for relocation (if necessary).
New Voices National Fellowship Program
newvoices.org
The New Voices National Fellowship Program is designed to assist nonprofit organizations and professionals entering into fields related to human rights and social justice. Applications are prepared jointly by a sponsoring organization and the Fellow. Fellows should be poised to take on a leadership role within the sponsoring organization, but may not be employed by the organization at the time of application, unless they are employed in an intern capacity. Fellows receive an annual salary of approximately $35,000. In addition, benefits include up to $1,000 per year for professional development, up to $6,000 per year for loan repayment, and a two year, $1,000 mentoring/networking account.
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Tips for Finding a Host Organization
As mentioned, several fellowships provide an opportunity for an individual to design their own “project,” which will then be hosted by a Public Interest or Government entity, known as a Host Organization. Finding a Host Organization is not something to be taken lightly, as not only will you be working with the organization for one or two years, the reputation and status of the organization may be a factor in whether you are awarded a fellowship. Further, finding a Host Organization is not as simple as placing a phone call; not all organizations are in a position to take on a Fellow or have the desire to do so. Below are several suggestions for identifying potential Host Organizations:
Call Upon a Past Relationship
One of the easiest ways to identify a potential Host Organization is to consider past organizations for which you have worked. Having already worked with individuals within the office, you will know their personalities, and they, yours. You will also be aware of the type(s) of law in which they engage and the ways in which they can assist your project.
Clinical Program
Similar to the above, an organization in which you have had a Clinical experience is a known quantity, as you are to them. Consider such organizations, what they have to offer, and the synergy between your project and their mission when seeking to identify potential Host Organizations.
Postings
Oftentimes, organizations will advertise that they are seeking to host potential Fellows; some may already have specific projects in mind. Be sure to check for such opportunities in the CSO’s job postings, on the EJW and PSLawNet websites, and other resources identified herein.
Current Fellows
Do not hesitate to contact current Fellows at organizations of interest. Each year, Skadden, EJW, Soros, and New Voices provide information (either in print form sent to the Career Services Office or posted on their respective websites) on current and former Fellows. Such individuals are valuable resources regarding developing projects, identifying Host Organizations, and detailing the overall experience.
Career Services Office
Do not forget about us! Come talk to us to help brainstorm ideas, identify potential Host Organizations, and draw upon our network of contacts.
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Application Tips
Each fellowship has its own specific application form and distinct selection criteria. Nonetheless, for fellowships where you design your own project, below are several tips to consider when preparing a powerful and persuasive application:
• Start Early! If you are designing your own project, you should begin exploring project ideas and potential Host Organizations during your second year of law school. The summer after your second year is the time to complete your proposal and solidify a relationship with a Host Organization.
• Have alumni, practitioners, current and former Fellows, and the Career Services Office review your proposal.
• Highlight why you are passionate about the issues addressed in your proposal.
• Identify the compelling need addressed by your proposal.
• Obtain personal and strong letters of recommendation, preferably from at least one individual associated with the area of law addressed by your proposal.
• Humanize yourself in the personal statement, as opposed to simply identifying your qualifications.
• Know the community in which you will be working: are others already doing the type of work you hope to do?
• Identify what you will leave behind. If there will be numerous phases to your overall project, point out what will be left for others to continue on upon the end of your fellowship period.
• Similarly, make a strong case for the sustainability of the project after your fellowship has ended. Examples include discussing how attorneys can be recruited to continue the work on a pro bono basis or indicating the Host Organization’s ability to hire you after the fellowship is over.
• List alternative funding sources you have explored in order to supplement implementation costs.
• And at risk of being repetitive…Start Early!
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Fellowship Resources
Public Service Job Search Guide - A guide to understanding and searching for careers in Public Interest and the Government. In addition, Fellowships are explained, as is the application process.
PSLawNet – The number one clearinghouse for information on public interest organizations across the United States and abroad. Visit the Fellowship Corner for the largest collection of post-graduate fellowship information. As a member of The John Marshall Law School community, registration is free.
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