Project fellowships help fund the creation of innovative projects that serve unmet legal needs. The key difference between these fellowships and other public interest fellowships is that applicants must propose their own projects. The most well-known project fellowships are Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowships. Several lesser-known ones also exist, such as, the Independence Foundation Public Interest Legal Fellowship (public interest work for non-profit organizations in the Philadelphia area), the Echoing Green Fellowship, and the New Voices Fellowship.

Advantages of Project Fellowships Project fellowships are popular with students for a variety of reasons. A major one is that these fellowships collectively offer the best chance for success, because each of the three major programs fund multiple fellows every year. They also offer both substantive and geographic flexibility. Most programs fund projects in any part of the country and in a variety of substantive areas. Some also fund international projects.

The most important aspect of a project fellowship application is, of course, the project. Developing a project proposal requires a lot of thought and preparation. Three key ingredients to creating a winning proposal are: (1) determining the right fellowship program(s) for you and your project; (2) creating a project that is achievable and matches your skills and experience; and (3) securing sponsorship from an enthusiastic and reputable organization. The three ingredients overlap considerably, so they should be pursued and determined as a whole.

Choosing the right fellowship program(s)
Project fellowship programs are similar in many ways, but they also differ in some significant respects. Some fellowship programs have set ideas about what they want to fund, while others are open to a wide range of issues and project structures. For example, Skadden funds only civil legal services, while the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship seek projects that focus on the criminal justice system. Another major difference is the structure of the projects. Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and Soros all seek to fund defined projects within sponsoring organizations, while entrepreneurial fellowships such as echoing green seeks more independent projects. You should apply to all the programs for which your project is eligible. Projects that meet Skadden's requirements, for example, usually also meet Equal Justice Works'.

Creating an achievable project
Creating a realistic and achievable project can seem like a daunting task, but often it is not as difficult as it seems. Many students naturally conceive of ideas during their internships and other public interest experiences. Other students secure sponsorship with an organization first, and then work collaboratively with the organization to design a project. In addition, more and more organizations seek to sponsor fellowship applicants for projects they have targeted as a priority for their organization.

Researching Project Fellowships Basic Questions to Consider What substantive issues does the program fund? What legal work is preferred (e.g. litigation, community organizing, legislative advocacy)? Are the fellowships limited to particular geographical areas? Does the program prefer certain organizations as sponsors? How entrepreneurial do I have to be and am I willing to be?

Successful project fellowship proposals generally share four common characteristics:

1. they suggest new and/or innovative ways to address unmet legal need
2. they demonstrate that a definite and substantial need exists
3. they propose achievable objectives
4. they show that the applicant has the relevant skills and experience to make the project a success. In considering different possibilities, always ask yourself whether a particular project will meet these criteria.

To get a sense of what issues and projects particular fellowship programs like to fund, find out what has been funded in the past. Most project fellowship programs publish materials on previously-funded projects. Talking to friends, colleagues, professors, and current and past employers can also help you shape project ideas. Finally, read the project proposals of prior applicants. OPICS keeps on file several successful project fellowship applications.

How do I come up with a proposal? Despite the many advantages of project fellowships, potential applicants are often intimidated by the idea of creating their own project proposal. Developing an idea, however, is probably easier than you would expect. To help in getting started, ask yourself the following questions: What type of issues really excite me? What issues are being debated in the area where I would like to work? What have been my most rewarding work experiences? Do I have specific knowledge or expertise in certain areas? What type of legal work (e.g., litigation, policy, organizing) am I most interested in? Would I rather be in an urban, suburban or rural area following law school? Is there a population with legal needs that no organization in the area is currently addressing?

You should begin exploring project ideas in your second year of law school, and ideally plan your 2L summer with potential projects in mind. Given the early deadlines for several of the project fellowship programs you will need to come back in the fall of your third year with a project proposal close to if not fully formulated. If you wait until third year, you will not have enough time to come up with an idea, secure necessary sponsorship, and complete labor-intensive applications.

Whatever project you decide upon, your project proposal should exude confidence and enthusiasm. Only projects that the fellowship programs are convinced will reach fruition have a realistic chance of being selected.

Choosing a sponsoring organization
Most project fellowship programs require sponsorship from an existing non-profit organization. A close relationship between the applicant, project, and the organization is critically important. The project should reflect and complement the mission and work of the sponsoring organization. In addition, the organization must demonstrate its ability to provide good supervision and training to a fellow.Finally, the organization should be financially stable and have a good reputation in the community.

Before approaching any organization for sponsorship, find out what organizations the fellowship programs prefer to fund. Some like to fund organizations in particular geographic areas, while others are more national in focus. In addition, some programs prefer to fund organizations not previously funded, while others are willing to fund the same organizations multiple times. Also try to find out if potential sponsoring organizations have had a positive relationship with a fellowship program. Talking with prior fellows and reading past project descriptions will give you a good sense of the programs' preferences and their experiences with specific organizations.

Know the law! When approaching an organization for potential sponsorship, make sure you are familiar with the work of the organization and the specific areas of law involved. As fellowship opportunities grow, more and more prospective fellows approach organizations. Applicants without basic knowledge of an organization and relevant legal issues are less likely to win its support than more knowledgeable applicants.

When possible, develop a relationship with a potential sponsoring organization well before the fellowship application process. Often, students will use their first-year and/or second-year summer to work in their preferred geographic area. This gives them the opportunity to learn about local organizations and develop contacts that might be helpful in approaching particular groups.

Approaching potential sponsors can be intimidating for many students, but it shouldn't be. Most organizations are very receptive to inquiries, and many will jump at the chance to sponsor a fellow. The task is often easier and more fruitful, however, if you have a contact at a particular organization. OPICS advisors, Georgetown alumni, friends, colleagues, and prior fellowship recipients can help you identify people at various organizations. You can also find contact information in general resources such as the OPICS Fellowship Chart, Symplicity and PSLawNet.org.

Writing, phoning, or e-mailing are all acceptable ways of contacting organizations. Address your inquiry to a specific person if possible, but a general inquiry is also acceptable when you do not have a contact name. A written inquiry should be formatted much like a cover letter, expressing your interest in the organization as a potential fellowship sponsor and your desire to speak with someone about any potential fellowship opportunities. Include some general project proposal ideas that relate to the work of the organization, and describe your relevant experience and skills. Follow up the inquiry within two weeks if you don't hear from the organization.