Public
Interest Post-Graduate Fellowships - Overview
Public
Interest Fellowship Resources
Individual
Public Interest Fellowship Websites
For more information on post-graduate fellowships:
Download The Post-Graduate
Fellowship Guide
For more information, contact:
Karen Pearlman, Esq.
Associate Director for Public Interest Programs
Phone: (215) 571-4722
kpearlman@drexel.edu
Public Interest Post-Graduate
Fellowships - Overview
Public
interest post-graduate fellowships and grant programs provide a unique opportunity
for attorneys interested in pursuing public interest law after graduation. Fellows
typically work with a host group, a non-profit public interest or government
organization, for a specified period of time on a public interest project. Fellowships
require students to either design a project, then locate an organization of
their choice to be a sponsor or to work in an established position within the
sponsoring organization. There also are law firm sponsored fellowships and
foundation grants programs that are the source of funding. A stipend and other
benefits, possibly including loan repayment assistance, are provided.
There are six main types of fellowships:
Project
Based and Entrepreneurial Fellowships
Organization
Based Fellowships
Policy
Fellowships
Teaching
Fellowships
Research
Fellowships
Non-Legal
Fellowships
Fellowships are
prestigious and highly competitive. The application process for fellowships
requires a significant amount of planning, preparation, and time. Organizations
typically require a personal statement and a proposal highlighting the issues
and needs addressed in the project. Applications for fellowships are usually
due early in the fall semester of the third year of law school. Starting the
planning process early, even in the first year of law school, improves your
chances of being successful in obtaining a fellowship. Fellowship sponsors
are looking for a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, so consider
a summer job with a public interest employer and participate in relevant student
organizations.
Please set up an appointment to meet with me
if you are interested in applying for a post-graduate
fellowship. I am happy to provide advice,
assist in the preparation of the fellowship
application and help prepare for interviews.
Public
Interest Fellowship Resources
Public
Service Law Network Fellowship Corner (PSLawNet)
http://www.pslawnet.org/fellowship/index.php
The most complete and current source of information for fellowships
Public Service
Law Network Fellowship Calendar (PSLawNet)
http://www.pslawnet.org/content/index.php?pid=41
An all-inclusive
fellowship deadline calendar
Yale Law School Public Interest Fellowship Guide
http://www.pslawnet.org/assets/392_yalepublicinterestfellows.pdf
Guide to Public Interest Fellowships, including
a section on Fellowship Application Tips
The University
of Michigan Law School Public Interest Jobnet
http://cgi2.www.law.umich.edu/_jobnet/TermsAndCondition.asp?PageFrom=cgi2.www.law.umich.edu/_jobnet/SearchListAndDetail.asp
Fellowship
database and other links to useful fellowship information
Postgraduate
International Fellowships
http://www.law.columbia.edu/center_program/public_interest/fellowships
Listing
of international post-graduate fellowships
from The Center for Public Interest Law at
Columbia Law School
Idealist
http://www.idealist.org/career/fellowship.html
Comprehensive listing of non-profit organizational, U.S., and international
fellowships
Drexel Law Career and Professional Development – Simplicity.com
https://law-drexel-csm.symplicity.com/
Drexel’s Career Services Management database
includes fellowship announcements. Use your
student ID and Password to access the site
Vault.com
http://www.vault.com/
Vault’s online career library is free to Drexel Law students. Contact
the Public Interest Law Coordinator for the password
Individual Public Interest
Fellowship Websites
Note: This is just a sampling of the Fellowships that exist. For
a complete listing of the Individual Fellowship Programs, visit www.pslawnet.org.
Echoing Green
http://www.echoinggreen.org/
This Fellowship includes a two-year stipend,
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. Fellows
are expected to make a full time commitment to
their projects. Fellows must be willing to participate
in Echoing Green network. [Source: Echoing
Green]
Equal Justice Works Fully Funded and Matching
Fellowships
http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/
FULLY FUNDED FELLOWSHIPS: The applicant proposes an innovative fellowship
project that implements legal advocacy on behalf of individuals, groups, or
issues that are not adequately represented by some aspect of 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. Approximately
25 fellows are selected annually. [Source: Equal Justice Works]
MATCHING FELLOWSHIPS: Sponsoring organizations apply directly for these fellowships. Individuals
apply to the particular agencies in which they are interested. Student applications
to the organizations are sent in the spring, when the list of sponsoring organizations
is available. [Source: Equal Justice Works]
Equal Justice America
http://www.equaljusticeamerica.org/
Equal Justice America offers post-graduate fellowships to students working
for organizations providing direct civil legal assistance for the poor. Students
must secure a two-year full-time placement with a civil legal assistance program
serving low-income communities. Equal Justice America will make monthly payments
to the hiring organization totally $80,000 over 24 months. Health and other
benefits, if any, will be paid by the hiring organization. [Source: Equal
Justice America]
Independence Foundation Public Interest Legal
Fellowship
http://www.independencefoundation.org/fellow_law.html
The Independence Foundation is committed to the support of free legal services
for poor and disadvantaged residents of the Philadelphia region. Through the Fellowship Program, the
Foundation funds the compensation and cost of employment benefits for accomplished
young lawyers who have decided to employ their considerable talents in public
interest service. In an additional component of each Fellowship grant, the
Foundation assists the Public Interest Law Fellows in the repayment of their
often substantial educational loans. Importantly, the Foundation requires
that the focus of all Fellowship work be on the direct representation of disadvantaged
clients. [Source: Independence Foundation]
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network - Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship Program
http://www.palegalservices.org/mlk_program.htm
The PLAN MLK Jr. Fellowship Program was created in 2004. In partnership
with a sponsoring regional or specialty program, law school graduates and
attorneys who are new to practice are hired as full-time staff attorneys
for a two-year fellowship. Fellows are assigned mentors and supervised
by experienced attorneys. Salary and benefits are determined by the host
program. In addition, loan repayment assistance, up to $11,000, is available
during the first two years of employment. The fellowship is intended to
support and promote new lawyers who are interested in long term public
interest careers. [Source:
PLAN MLK, Jr. Fellowship]
Pro Bono Legal Corp (PBLC)
http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/communities/participants/pblc
Created by President Clinton, Americorp members provide national service
by working in Public Interest areas such as: Domestic Violence, Poverty, Homelessness,
and Housing. PBLC members receive small living stipends, health insurance,
and training expenses. Once a member serves for the required time, usually
one year, a monetary educational award is made, which must be used for further
education or repayment of student loans. There are Americorp positions throughout
the country. [Source: PBLC]
Skadden Fellowships
http://www.skaddenfellowships.org/
The aim of the foundation is the give Fellows the
freedom to pursue their interests in public interest
work. Therefore, the Fellows create their own projects
to provide services within established organizations before they apply. Fellowships
are awarded for one year, with the expectation of renewal for a second. Skadden
selects 25 fellows annually. [Source: Skadden]
Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus_areas/justice_fellows
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 Fellowships support
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. [Source: Open Society
Institute]
The Wellstone Fellowship
http://www.familiesusa.org/about/wellstone-fellowship.html
The Wellstone Fellow will be engaged in Families
USA’s outreach to, and mobilization of, communities
of color. The fellowship is designed to give an
individual both a national and a local perspective
on social justice work. The Fellow will work in
the Families USA office in Washington D.C. and learn more about Medicare, Medicaid, efforts
to achieve universal coverage and other health
policy issues. [Source: The Wellstone Fellowship]
Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship
http://www.wlppfp.org/
The Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program
offers Fellowships for public interest lawyers
from across the United States who are committed
to
advancing women's rights throughout their careers, and who are interested in
gaining experience working on women's rights for a year with a public interest
organization or governmental agency in the nation's capital. Each Women's
Law Fellow will be assigned to work on women's issues with a placement organization. The
Fellow's responsibilities will vary according to the activities performed by
the placement organization, but will focus on handling legal and policy issues
relating to the advancement of women's rights. Depending on the availability
of funds, approximately six applicants will be awarded Women's Law and Public
Policy Fellowships. These Fellowships will carry a stipend of about $37,500.
The placement organizations employ the Fellows and provide standard fringe
benefits. [Source: WLPPF]
Zubrow Fellowship – Juvenile Law Center
http://www.jlc.org/index.php/about/zubrow
The Zubrow Fellowship is 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,
litigation, policy work and some direct representation 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. Zubrow
Fellows will be provided with an annual salary of $46,000. Fellows are
also provided with employer paid health care and disability and life
insurance benefits. The Zubrow Fellowship will also provide up to $10,000
per year in loan repayments. [Source: Juvenile Law Center]