Fellowships fall generally into one of three categories: project fellowships, organizational fellowships, and clinical teaching and other academic fellowships.
- Project fellowships are designed to fund the creation of new, innovative public interest law projects. Applicants must develop a project proposal, usually in conjunction with a sponsoring organization. Skadden and Equal Justice Works are the most well-known project fellowships.
- Organizational fellowships are established positions within existing organizations offered either at pre-determined intervals (e.g., every one or two years) or as funding allows. Hundreds of organizational fellowships are available every year.
- Clinical fellowships are short-term positions with law school clinical programs. Most combine public interest practice with academic study or teaching, and some offer a degree at the end of the fellowship. However, a growing number of academic fellowships focus on independent scholarly research, often at a law school or think tank.
This manual does not cover government honor programs, which are the sole vehicle through which some agencies hire entry-level attorneys. The University of Arizona Government Honor Program Handbook is the best source of information on Government Honor Programs. The Handbook is available online (password protected).
What are fellowships?
Why are fellowships good career options?
Do I have to apply for a fellowship as a third year or can I wait until I've been practicing for a few years?
Are fellowships very competitive?
How important are grades?
Does doing a judicial clerkship help?
Is journal experience useful?
How much do fellowships pay?
Will it hurt my fellowship chances if I spend a summer with a law firm?
Can I get Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) coverage if I do a fellowship?
How important are recommendations?
Whom should I ask for recommendations?
Are fellows ever offered permanent positions with their organizations after their fellowships end?
Where can I find information on fellowships?
What are fellowships?
Fellowships are short-term, full-time public interest positions for new or recent law graduates. Most are offered for one or two-year periods, but they can be as short as six months and as long as four years. Fellowship venues include non-profit organizations, government agencies, law firms and academic settings.
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Why are fellowships good career options?
Fellowships are good opportunities for many reasons. First, as noted above, permanent, entry-level positions at public interest organizations are relatively rare, and fellowships offer an alternative way to find public interest work immediately upon graduation. Second, if funding is available, many organizations hire their fellows for permanent positions at the conclusion of their fellowships. Third, many fellowships offer both substantive and geographic flexibility. Finally, fellowships provide excellent experience and exposure, which can be critical to finding subsequent public interest employment.
Do I have to apply for a fellowship as a third year or can I wait until I've been practicing for a few years?
This depends on the fellowship. For example, Skadden applicants must apply immediately after graduation or a judicial clerkship. In contrast, Equal Justice Fellowships are open to experienced attorneys in addition to recent law school graduates. When researching fellowship programs, be sure to check whether they have time restrictions.
Are fellowships very competitive?
Too often, students will not even consider public interest fellowships because of their competitiveness. Please do not make that mistake. It is true that fellowships are competitive, and some are more so than others. However, no fellowship is outside the reach of any Georgetown student.
The key to making yourself competitive for fellowships is gaining public interest experience. In evaluating applicants, virtually all fellowship programs place the most weight on demonstrated commitment to public interest. General public interest work is a must, and specialized experience in the applicable subject area is necessary for many fellowships. Thus, the earlier you start gaining public interest experience — through internships, clinics, and other volunteer work — the better your chances.
How important are grades?
Generally, grades are not as important to public interest employers as they are to private sector employers, but for some fellowships they are a factor. Never completely discount a fellowship opportunity on the basis of grades, however, as even grade-conscious fellowship programs often give equal or more weight to other parts of your application. Conversely, good grades never hurt, so you should try to do as well as you can throughout law school.
Does doing a judicial clerkship help?
Although clerkships are rarely a requirement for public interest fellowships, they are valuable experiences that, like grades, can often help you. This is particularly true for fellowships with a substantial litigation component. Many Georgetown graduates who received post-graduate public interest fellowships did so after clerking for a federal or state judge. Always check to see if a particular fellowship accepts, requires, or prefers judicial clerks.
Is journal experience useful?
Journal membership is often considered an indication of strong academic credentials and can therefore be helpful with some fellowships. Most public interest employers, however, do not put a premium on such experience unless it is in a relevant subject area. As a general rule, internships and clinical experience are valued more.
Compensation
Fellowship salaries vary significantly. Some salaries are as low as $25,000, while others are as high as $80,000. Currently, the typical salary is in the low $40,000 range. Fellowship salaries are usually not negotiable. Most fellowships offer benefits such as health insurance and vacation, and many offer loan forgiveness that supplements Georgetown's loan repayment assistance program.
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Will it hurt my fellowship chances if I spend a summer with a law firm?
It will never disqualify you outright, but working for a firm for an entire summer does have consequences. The biggest one is that you lose a summer of full-time public interest experience, which can put you at a competitive disadvantage to other applicants. Therefore, if you intend to work for a firm for at least a summer, devise a plan to make up for lost time. Some suggestions are splitting your summer between a firm and a public interest employer, doing significant pro bono work at a firm, interning during the school year, participating in a clinic, and staying in contact with previous employers.
Can I get Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) coverage if I do a fellowship?
Yes, as long as the fellowship meets the definition of qualifying employment. You should check with the Office of Financial Aid before accepting any fellowship to make sure it is covered.
How important are recommendations?
Extremely. Recommendations are often key in convincing fellowship selection committees that you have the initiative, competence, passion, and drive to succeed in your fellowship. Never ask someone for a recommendation if you are not sure the person will give you a good – ideally stellar – one. Negative or lukewarm recommendations will often doom your candidacy.
Whom should I ask for recommendations?
Generally, you should choose people who can speak in detail about you, your skills, and your commitment to public interest. Previous public interest employers are the most common, and often the best, recommenders. Faculty members, such as clinic professors, are also good choices, but never (unless requested by the fellowship program) choose a professor who doesn't know you that well over someone who will give a more detailed and positive recommendation.
Are fellows ever offered permanent positions with their organizations after their fellowships end?
Yes, this frequently happens, but there is no guarantee. The potential for permanent employment is usually dependent on whether funding is available. Many public interest organizations have limited resources, and they are not always able to expand their staff when a fellowship ends. However, in cases where funding is not available, fellows and organizations will often work together to seek additional funds to continue a fellowship or create a new staff position.
Where can I find information on fellowships?
We suggest that you begin your fellowship search by reviewing the OPICS Fellowship Charts, which includes an extensive list of fellowship programs throughout the United States. PSLawNet.org and the companion PSLawNet Comprehensive Fellowship Guide (available in OPICS), Symplicity, and the Harvard "Serving the Public Job Search Guide" are additional recomended sources of information on Fellowship programs. In addition, many organization's websites provide detailed information on their fellowships. The best sources of information, however, are fellowship representatives, prior fellows, OPICS advisors, and other individuals with in-depth knowledge of particular fellowship programs. Each year, OPICS hosts a series of fellowship information sessions featuring representatives of the major fellowship programs. A fellowship workshop is also held each spring. Try to attend these programs for thorough information on the fellowships that interest you.
