Sponsorship for 2025-2027 Externally-Funded Legal Fellowships
Washington, DC
Full Time
Various
Entry Level
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the nation’s leading national racial justice legal organizations. Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, the Lawyers’ Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real.
The Lawyers’ Committee is soliciting applications from current law school students or recent graduates for sponsorship to serve as externally-funded legal fellows in one or more of the following projects: Voting Rights, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice, Educational Opportunities, Public Policy, Fair Housing & Community Development, or Digital Justice. Applicants should plan to begin their fellowship in the fall of 2025.
These fellowships provide an invaluable opportunity to become immersed in civil rights practice, working alongside many of the nation's leading civil rights experts at the Lawyers' Committee's national office in Washington, DC. Our fellows are involved in all aspects of our work, including co-counseling litigation, engaging in legislative and public policy advocacy, and working to expand public education on important civil rights matters.
Please note that to apply for these fellowships, applicants must have secured or be able to secure outside funding, including through the Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or other competitive fellowship or grant programs. Upon accepting your application, Lawyers’ Committee staff will work with you to develop your project proposal according to your funding source's timeline and other requirements.
Minimum Requirements and Competencies:
Preference will be given to applicants who:
To Apply: Please submit PDF versions of the following:
All materials should be submitted by July 26, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Application materials must be submitted via the Lawyers’ Committee Application System. The deadline will be strictly enforced. The legal writing sample must be the applicant’s original work—please indicate at the beginning of the document whether and the extent to which it has been edited by others.
Applications are due July 26, 2024, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of applications received, please note that the Fellowship Selection Committee will not be able to inform every applicant regarding the status of their application. However, the Committee will contact all applicants when the selection of finalists has been completed. We thank you for your understanding in advance.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: The Lawyers’ Committee embraces diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of color and candidates from underrepresented communities to apply. The Lawyers’ Committee does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, personal appearance, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other status protected under law.
Accessibility Assistance: If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance completing the online application, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Applicant Accommodation.”
Important Vaccination Requirement: The Lawyers’ Committee requires employees to be fully vaccinated (including all eligible boosters) against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.
The Lawyers’ Committee is soliciting applications from current law school students or recent graduates for sponsorship to serve as externally-funded legal fellows in one or more of the following projects: Voting Rights, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice, Educational Opportunities, Public Policy, Fair Housing & Community Development, or Digital Justice. Applicants should plan to begin their fellowship in the fall of 2025.
These fellowships provide an invaluable opportunity to become immersed in civil rights practice, working alongside many of the nation's leading civil rights experts at the Lawyers' Committee's national office in Washington, DC. Our fellows are involved in all aspects of our work, including co-counseling litigation, engaging in legislative and public policy advocacy, and working to expand public education on important civil rights matters.
Please note that to apply for these fellowships, applicants must have secured or be able to secure outside funding, including through the Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or other competitive fellowship or grant programs. Upon accepting your application, Lawyers’ Committee staff will work with you to develop your project proposal according to your funding source's timeline and other requirements.
Minimum Requirements and Competencies:
- A law degree, or one expected by the spring of 2025.
- Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills as demonstrated through an internship, clinical, writing sample, academic record and/or other work experience.
- Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with all Lawyers' Committee staff.
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with diverse clients and community organizations.
- Effective written and oral communication skills in both legal and non-legal settings.
- At most, two years of practice by the time the fellowship starts; and Membership in the DC Bar, eligibility to waive into the DC Bar, or eligibility to sit for the DC Bar exam before beginning the fellowship.
Preference will be given to applicants who:
- Can demonstrate involvement in activities, employment, or scholarship that promote racial justice and inclusion and opportunity for historically marginalized communities.
To Apply: Please submit PDF versions of the following:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Legal Writing Sample
- Official or unofficial law school transcript
- Short project proposal (1-2 paragraphs)
All materials should be submitted by July 26, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Application materials must be submitted via the Lawyers’ Committee Application System. The deadline will be strictly enforced. The legal writing sample must be the applicant’s original work—please indicate at the beginning of the document whether and the extent to which it has been edited by others.
Applications are due July 26, 2024, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of applications received, please note that the Fellowship Selection Committee will not be able to inform every applicant regarding the status of their application. However, the Committee will contact all applicants when the selection of finalists has been completed. We thank you for your understanding in advance.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: The Lawyers’ Committee embraces diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of color and candidates from underrepresented communities to apply. The Lawyers’ Committee does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, personal appearance, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other status protected under law.
Accessibility Assistance: If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance completing the online application, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Applicant Accommodation.”
Important Vaccination Requirement: The Lawyers’ Committee requires employees to be fully vaccinated (including all eligible boosters) against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.
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