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The best way to learn about different employment options is to work in environments that pique your interest. Take advantage of clinical courses, externships and volunteer opportunities to acquaint yourself first-hand with different types of public interest employers in different fields such as direct client services or policy work. The sooner you develop an interest, the sooner you acquire the specialized skills and knowledge necessary to succeed. Relatedly, some experiences also help students decide which types of careers are not right for them. A public interest internship can serve as the testing ground for a post-graduate fellowship.
WHAT IS A FELLOWSHIP?
Post-graduate fellowships provide recent law school graduates a wonderful opportunity to fund and obtain a public interest position right out of law school for one or two years. Applying for fellowships is a competitive, time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but fellowships are a unique and effective way to create a public interest “dream job” working on engaging and meaningful legal issues that are not adequately addressed by the legal community. Fellows typically work on behalf of an underserved community, develop projects resulting in enhanced legal services, public policy, legislation, or conduct research on cutting-edge legal issues. PSJD1 and Equal Justice Works2 offer troves of advice for prospective fellows, including links to guides produced by several law schools.3
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FELLOWSHIPS?
Organizational Fellowships are sponsored by a particular non-profit organization and fellows receive a stipend for working within the organization.4
Examples include the Ruth Chance Fellows at Equal Rights Advocates5 and fellowships at the ACLU6 and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Project-Based Fellowships allow applicants to develop their own specific project in conjunction with a sponsoring non-profit organization of the applicants’ choice .
Examples include Skadden Fellowships8, Equal Justice Works Fellowships9 (“EJW”), and Echoing Green Fellowships10.
Academic Fellowships are available at some law schools and provide the opportunity to earn an advanced law degree while training to become a law professor.11
Examples include the Georgetown University Teaching Fellowship.12
International Fellowships allow applicants to work abroad for international organizations or on issues of international concern.
Examples of groups that sponsor these fellowships are Human Rights Watch13 and Amnesty International14.
WHAT DO FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS REQUIRE?
Most applications require (1) resumes; (2) personal statements/essays; (3) recommendations from professors and/or former employers; and (4) occasionally a law school transcript.15 Some applications require a statement from the host organization and others require or a detailed proposal of your project.16
HOW DO I DEVELOP MY PROJECT?
A successful fellowship application requires a significant amount of advance planning. It is recommended to start setting the groundwork for your applications as early as the first semester of law school! Although it might seem premature, it is important to remember that you will need to demonstrate to fellowship sponsors a consistent commitment to public interest law. The best way to do this is through networking, working for public interest employers and enrolling in clinical programs. Pre-law school public service experience may be relevant as well.
Project-based fellowships are often dependent on how well applicants conveyed the goals of the project, the concrete and specific strategies to accomplish these goals and the particular skills and experience of the applicant to make the project succeed.17 You may have a better chance of obtaining a fellowship if you are willing to relocate to a geographic area that attracts fewer attorneys. For example, EJW specifically encourages applications from people who want to work in areas other than popular coastal cities. However, if you show a personal connection to an urban city, that can strengthen your application. For a project-based fellowship, ask yourself these questions18 to begin some self-assessment:
~What kind of work are you interested in? Direct representation? Coalition building? Policy development? Impact litigation? Lobbying?
~What measurable outcomes you want to achieve? This can include the number of clients served, legislation proposed/enacted, specific change to existing law, or a coalition formed to address a particular sub-issue?
~How is your project unique? What is the need for your project?19 How do you know that need exists? Will you work on a national or local level?
~How does your background prepare you for this project?20 What is your passion for or particular connection to this project? Does the project fit with your long-term goals?
~Is your timeline realistic? Who do you need to develop relationships with for your project to succeed (and continue after your fellowship ends)?21