The summer is the best time to begin searching for project-based fellowship opportunities. Project-based fellowships provide recent graduates with the chance to design a program to address an unmet legal need. Using funding from an external source, fellows partner with a host organization to implement their program. Because there is both a funding organization and a host organization, the process for securing a project-based fellowship requires separate applications to the host and funding organizations.
Skadden and Equal Justice Works are two of the largest national funding sources for project-based fellowships. And both are accepting project proposals!
Because both of these organizations have early fall deadlines, host organizations are seeking fellowship candidates now! This gives the host organizations time to find the right candidates and help you design a project proposal to submit for funding.
To look for organizations that are seeking to host and fund fellows for project-based fellowships, use this filtered search.
(NOTE: There are funding sources other than Equal Justice Works and Skadden, so be on the lookout for those as well!)
In the Resource Center, you can also use the Fellowship Calendar to browse project-based fellowship opportunities in a calendar view, sorted by either post date or application deadline. Click here for a filtered view of the calendar.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a national organization that advocates for the rights of unaccompanied migrant and refugee children. Employees and partners of KIND recognize that the needs of unaccompanied migrant children are multi-faceted so they use a holistic strategy for addressing these needs. KIND’s services include pro bono legal representation, policy and advocacy for fair treatment, and mental and social services. KIND has successfully been referred more than 20,000 children, trained over 50,000 participants on how to represent children, and hosted over 644 legal partners.
The Positions
KIND seeks applicants with all levels of experience to fill intern, paralegal, and attorney positions in their offices across the country.
For each of these positions, the ideal candidates will have experience with immigration law, experience working with children, cross-cultural communication skills, and fluency in Spanish.
A Better Balance is a national legal advocacy organization promoting fairness in the workplace to help workers take care of themselves and their families without sacrificing their economic security. A Better Balance employees achieve their goals through policy work, direct legal services, strategic litigation, and public education. Thus far, A Better Balance has achieved victories in equal pay, breastfeeding accommodations, pregnancy and caregiver protections, protection for diverse families, and much more. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, A Better Balance attorneys and staff are working to strengthen emergency and permanent policy procedures, providing direct legal services, and conducting Know Your Rights public education.
The Position
A Better Balance seeks an entry-level lawyer passionate about the rights of women, families, and caregivers to work as a Legal Fellow for at least one year. The Fellow will be responsible for managing A Better Balance’s free and confidential legal helpline to provide assistance to Spanish- and English-speaking low-wage workers. The Fellow will also provide litigation support and create public education materials in Spanish and English.
The ideal candidate will be Spanish-English bilingual, have experience in providing direct legal services, and be committed to work and family law and advocacy for low-income individuals.
ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes – USA Office) is a U.S.-based nonprofit policy organization that strices to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT-USA’s work focuses on efforts in awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation. ECPAT-USA achieves its mission by promoting corporate responsibility, educating first responders and citizens, and empowering youth, and advocating for state and federal policy to end the sexual exploitation of children.
The Position
ECPAT-USA seeks a law student intern to remotely assist in the preparation of a report on state and local anti-trafficking regulations pertaining to the hospitality industry. The student will contribute research and writing to a report that will be distributed to advocates, policy-makers, and businesses seeking to comply with changes in the legal landscape.
Public Rights Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the gap between the values behind our laws and the lived realities of vulnerable communities across the U.S. Public Rights Project accomplishes its goals by lending support to state and local prosecutors offices to help them protect the core rights and freedoms of Americans. Staff and attorneys at Public Rights Project provide strategic planning support to boost policy enforcement in prosecutors offices and provide pro bono or low cost legal services to help partner agencies get the resources they need.
The Position
Public Rights Project seeks fellows to participate in a two-year fellowship placement with a partnering prosecutorial agency. Fellows will work along side practicing government attorneys to gain experience in affirmative litigation, community engagement, and policy research. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work on enforcement projects within their placement offices.
The ideal candidates will be passionate about public service, have active bar membership, and litigation experience.
Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system. ALDF staff and attorneys accomplish their goals through animal abuse lawsuits, policy efforts to strength and enforce anti-cruelty statutes, and public education. The ALDF also cultivates the future of animal law through its national student chapters.
The Positions
ALDF seeks second- and third-year law students to work remotely as law clerks this summer. ALDF is hiring clerks in three programs: Legislative Affairs, Pro Bono, and In-House Legal.
The Legislative Affairs clerk will work full-time researching policy issues; corresponding with supporters, partners, and officials; attending hearings and meetings; drafting campaign content; and delivering policy presentations. The ideal candidate will have excellent organization and communication skills and have the ability to use discretion when handling confidential materials.
The two Pro Bono Program clerks will work part-time to help develop ALDF’s pro bono network. The clerks will be responsible for researching law firms and attorneys; CLEs, events, and conferences; public requests for legal assistance; and resource content. The ideal candidates will be flexible and have a sincere interest in animal protection.
The In-House Counsel clerk will work part-time on internal and transactional legal issues related to ALDF’s daily functioning. The clerk will learn to negotiate contracts, monitor disclosures, research legal issues related to corporate governance and lobbying regulations, review and draft personnel policies, and more. The ideal candidate will be flexible and have a sincere interest in animal protections.
The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights (Institute) is an Italian non-profit organization dedicated to education, training, and research in international and comparative criminal justice and human rights. The Institute is recognized by Decree of the Italian government and enjoys special consultative status with the United Nations. The Institute provides training and educational conferences and seminars that connect experts, practitioners, and attendees. The Institute has also published scholarly and scientific research on topics relating to international and comparative criminal law, human rights, and country-specific issues of criminal law and procedure.
The Position
The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights seeks postgraduate ad hoc Researchers and Analysts (RAs) to contribute research, analysis, and data collection relating to international criminal justice. The work schedule is very flexible as RAs will work remotely and be offered assignments as they arise.
The ideal candidates will have a postgraduate qualification in law with an interest and experience in transnational crime, international criminal justice, and human rights. Candidates will also be independent, detail-oriented, and able to adhere to strict deadlines. Fluency in a language other than English is desirable.
The Civitas ChildLaw Center at Loyola University Chicago School of Law is an internationally recognized academic center that offers clinical and substantive coursework while advancing the rights of children in both litigation and policy realms. Civitas ChildLaw Center functions in four capacities: a center for the human rights of the child, an education law and policy institute, a child law policy institute, and a legal clinic. Through these four capacities, Civitas ChildLaw Center trains law students, and children’s rights leaders to advocate zealously and effectively for children and families.
The Position
Civitas ChildLaw Center seeks an Anti-Bullying Fellow to lead a comprehensive statewide initiative seeking to eliminate bullying in schools. In conjunction with Center faculty, the Fellow will create a program to expand and enhance the implementation and enforcement of bullying laws and protections.
The ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience in education law or complex litigation. Candidates eligible for admission to the Illinois bar in July are also welcome to apply.
Vital Strategies is an international public health organization tasked with developing and overseeing government programs that strengthen public health systems. Their headquarters is based in New York City and their global network reaches 73 countries. With a team of over 400 professionals, the organization’s work spans many areas including the prevention of overdoses, epidemics, childhood lead poisoning, and obesity.
The Position
Vital Strategies seeks a Program Liaison to work with the City of Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Criminal Justice in its administration of the Police Assisted Diversion Program (PAD). PAD is a pre-booking diversion program that allows police officers to exercise discretion to divert individuals committing low-level drug, retail-theft, and sex-work related offenses into a community-based, trauma-informed, case management program. The Program Liaison will be responsible for strategic planning to strengthen the expansion of the PAD Program to include new pilot programs.
The ideal candidate will have professional experience in criminal justice reform, harm reduction, and project management, and will have strong interpersonal skills. It is preferred that applicants are also familiar with law enforcement, behavioral health systems, or criminal justice diversionary programs.
The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) provides statewide representation in criminal defense cases to those unable to afford an attorney. Maryland OPD employees operate according to a common principle: Justice, Fairness and Dignity for All. Under this guiding principle, Maryland OPD attorneys represent clients in criminal defense, parental, defense, appeals, post-conviction, and mental health cases.
The Position
The Maryland Office of the Public Defender is hiring its Fall 2020 Class of assistant public defenders to work in its offices throughout the state. Assistant public defenders are responsible for zealously advocating for indigent criminal defendants through competent and resourceful representation and thoughtful communication with clients and team members.
The ideal candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to public defense and social justice, will be compassionate, and will thrive in a fast-paced environment.
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