Established in 1988, the Skadden Fellowship Program annually funds 25 projects that provide civil legal services to the working poor, the elderly, the disabled, or those deprived of their civil or human rights. In recent years, fellows have also worked on issues concerning economic development and community renewal. The fellowship is open to graduating law students and outgoing judicial clerks. Though the fellowships are funded by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, the fellowships are not tied to employment at the firm.

Skadden Mentors Network Previous Skadden fellows can often play an important part in the application process. Many have been invaluable mentors to Georgetown applicants, providing great insight and advice on what projects are likely to be funded, how to structure applications, what Skadden looks for in applicants, etc. Dont limit yourself to Georgetown Law alumni, though. You should call any prior Skadden fellow whom you think will be helpful. In addition, Susan Butler Plum is willing to discuss potential project ideas and your application with you. Take full advantage of the expertise of all of these people; doing so can help you hone fellowship ideas and significantly improve your chances for success.

Skadden fellowships are generally for two years, although they are structured as one year with renewal possible for a second year. Virtually all fellows are renewed for the second year absent serious problems. Currently, the salary is $46,000 plus the same benefits offered to other employees of the sponsoring organization. The program also provides generous loan repayment for law school loans during the fellowship period. The repayment supplements Georgetowns Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

Skadden receives a few hundred applications each year. Applications for the 2009 Fellowship are due October 1, 2008. Seventy-five applicants are chosen for interviews. Each interview is conducted by Susan Butler Plum, Fellowship Program Director, and at least one member of the Fellowship Advisory Committee, comprised of 12 Skadden partners. Fifty semi-finalists are selected from the interviews, and final decisions are made by the Board of Trustees, comprised of both Skadden partners and outside individuals. Decisions are made in early December each year.

Projects funded
Skadden funds only domestic projects that provide civil legal services to the poor. Each project must be sponsored by a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax status and at least two full-time lawyers on staff. The program does not fund international projects or those involving reproductive rights, environmental issues, religion, or criminal law. It also does not fund immigration law projects, but it will fund projects involving other legal problems faced by immigrants.

The majority of projects funded involve direct representation. While the projects can and often do have a broader advocacy component, such as community education or organizing, Skadden is known to prefer direct service projects. Only a small number of impact-oriented projects are funded each year. The program also looks closely to make sure that projects involve primarily legal work as compared to social work. Applicants whose projects appear to blur the distinction will be asked to explain why legal skills are required. Finally, while Skadden funds a broad range of issue areas and populations, projects must have a primary focus on the legal needs of the poor. Susan Butler Plum often states that projects must pass a "poverty test."

Selection criteria & evaluation process
Applicants are evaluated primarily on the basis of academic performance, commitment to the public interest, and affinity for the project. Applicants are encouraged to submit resumes that list any and all activities reflecting a commitment to public service. Do not try to limit your resume to one page — Skadden likes to see everything!

While grades are important to Skadden, there is no GPA cut-off and interested applicants should not discount their chances on grades alone. Someone with a stellar GPA but little public interest experience is unlikely to fare well in the application process.

Strong preference is given to applicants who have connections to the communities and/or populations to be served by their projects. Applicants proposing projects with non-English speaking populations should have at least working knowledge of the applicable language. Direct legal experience with the substantive issues is also important.

Skadden describes its fellowships as apprenticeships, and it places a great deal of emphasis on the reputation and effectiveness of sponsoring organizations. In fact, the program frequently funds organizations that have had Skadden Fellows in the past. Substantial weight is given to an organization's ability to provide good supervision, training, and mentoring. Your application should specifically address the supervision issue and include, if possible, detailed background information about the person who will supervise you.