Fellowships
What is a Fellowship?
Fellowships are full-time post-graduate programs, typically with one- or two-year commitments, in conjunction with a nonprofit host organization, that launch effective, creative public service projects. You may apply as a third year law student, a recent graduate, or an experienced attorney.
Fellowship opportunities vary widely. For example, some fellowship applications require that the applicant propose a specific project that he or she will pursue while with the host organization, other fellowships will fund the individual without whereas the need to propose a project at the application stage. In addition, some fellowships will fund only the applicant's salary while others fund an entire project, covering expenses such as office rent and publicity. The following are just a few examples of the many fellowships for which students and graduates can apply:
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Equal Justice Works Fellowships
These two-year fellowships provide a salary of $37,500, 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. Applications are available online.
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Environmental Law Institute (ELI) Fellowship
Law Fellows work on a wide range of environmental issues, both international and domestic. They staff a variety of projects throughout the one-year fellowship, including research and writing, participating in conferences, drafting legislation, and writing policy papers. The fellowship is designed to facilitate young lawyers to launch careers in the environment and to bring fresh, enthusiastic perspectives to projects at ELI.
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Fried Frank Fellowship Program
Those interested in combining a strong commitment to public-interest lawyering with an active "mainstream" practice should consider the Fried Frank Fellowship Program. This program gives junior lawyers the chance to spend two years in the litigation department of Fried Frank's New York office and then two years at either the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) or the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). After satisfactory completion of the program, Fellows may return to Fried Frank, with full seniority, or, if there are openings, they may continue to work as staff attorneys with LDF or MALDEF.
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Irmas Fellowship
The Irmas Fellowship is a postgraduate fellowship honoring Sydney and Audrey Irmas. The fellowship was created through the generousity of Mr. and Mrs. Irmas and the Public Interest Law Foundation to assist recent USC Law graduates beginning careers in public interest. The award is for one year and provides $37,500 to the recipient. More information and applications are available in the Career Services Office.
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This fellowship program is designed to help students or graduates initiate a career in one of the sponsored program areas and develop the leadership and management skills needed to become a new and effective voice within that organization. During the two-year program, New Voices grants to the organization the fellow's full salary and benefits for the first year and 75 percent of the fellow's salary and 75 percent of benefits for the second year.
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Pacific Legal Foundation Fellowships
Participants in this program will receive concentrated litigation and writing experience in the areas of the Foundation's legal practice. The Foundation promotes the principles of free enterprise, private property, limited government and freedom of the individual. Fellowships can be for one or two years and pay between $40,000 and $52,000 per year.
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Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Fellowship Program
The Reporters Committee is a voluntary, unincorporated association of reporters and editors dedicated to protecting the First Amendment interests of the news media. Law fellows will monitor significant developments in media law, assist with responding to legal defense requests from reporters, prepare legal memoranda, and handle other special projects. In addition, fellows will write for the Committee's publications, the quarterly magazine The News Media & The Law, and the bi-weekly newsletter, News Media Update. Fellowships last for one year, with a stipend of $30,000, plus fully-paid health benefits.
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Fellowships are awarded to graduating law students and outgoing judicial clerks who create a project that will increase and improve the legal services available to the less fortunate in our society. Fellowships are awarded for one year, with the expectation of renewal for a second year. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary of $37,500, loan repayment assistance, and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled.
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A number of varied fellowships are available for students and recent graduates who wish to use their education and professional skills for public interest projects.
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U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General - Bristow Fellowship
Bristow Fellows help draft briefs in opposition to certiorari filed against the government in the Supreme Court of the United States and prepare recommendations to the Solicitor General regarding authorization of government appeals in the lower courts. The fellows also assist staff lawyers in preparing petitions for certiorari and briefs on the merits in Supreme Court cases, work on special projects, and assist the Solicitor General and other lawyers in the office in the preparation of oral arguments in the Supreme Court. In recent years, four Bristow fellows have been selected each year and have paid at the GS-12 level.
How Does a Fellowship Further My Career Goals?
Many public service organizations indicate that they can offer post-graduation employment to law graduates who bring their own funding. Receipt of a fellowship or grant can therefore provide the important entree into the field of public service. The rewards of a fellowship are tremendous. Fellows are able to use their legal skills to effect positive change for disadvantaged populations and/or society in general. A fellowship is an impressive credential that is valued by future employers. Moreover, a fellowship allows you to demonstrate your initiative, legal skills, and commitment to public interest law.
When Should I Apply?
Each fellowship has its own application process and deadlines. It is important to research fellowship opportunities thoroughly and follow the specific application instructions carefully. Because many fellowship applications are due early in the third year of law school, students are encouraged to start researching fellowships during their second year of law school.
Where Can I Find Fellowship Information?
A primary source of listings for full-time, post-J.D. fellowships is the PSLawNet Fellowship Guide, which is available for review in the CSO. Students are also encouraged to visit PSLawNet, where they can conduct a search for fellowship information.
For comprehensive information, students are welcome and encouraged to review the current or previous Career Services fellowship binders, where information on many different fellowships is housed. Additional information can be found in Appendix E, "Bibliography of Public Services Resources," under "Fellowships and Grants." Also see The Advocate (Public Interest Clearinghouse), a newsletter that has a fellowship listing in each issue and is available in the Career Services Student Resource Center.
