Organizational fellowships are defined positions within existing organizations. Scores are offered each year in a wide variety of substantive areas and geographic locations. A nice feature of these fellowships is that applicants do not need to develop their own projects, so applying for them is generally less time-consuming and labor-intensive than applying for project fellowships. The ease of applying, however, does not mean that the positions are less competitive or easier to obtain.

Most organizational fellowships are offered for one-year or two-year terms, and typical salaries range from $30,000 to $50,000. As with other public interest fellowships, to be competitive applicants must be able to show a strong commitment to public interest work. Success is rare for individuals who have not obtained significant public interest experience during and/or prior to law school.

Many types of non-profit organizations offer legal fellowships, including legal service organizations, advocacy groups, academic institutions, and foundations. The type of legal work involved varies greatly by fellowship. Some non-profit fellowships focus on direct representation only, while others involve more policy-oriented work, including lobbying, public education, administrative advocacy, community development, and/or grassroots organizing. Some of these fellowships are focused on one particular area or issue, while others are more general.

There are many resources to help you find organizational fellowship opportunities including PSLawNet, Symplicity, and the OPICS Fellowship Chart.

Organizational fellowships that are available only to Georgetown graduates :

• Barker Foundation Fellowship in Animal Law - fellows work with the Humane Society of the United States.
• The Georgetown/Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) Fellowship in Asylum and Refugee Law — fellows represent individuals being detained pending asylum hearings. Site rotates between Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles.
• Howrey Pro Bono Fellowship - Fellows work as in-house pro bono attorneys for two years at Howrey LLP. This fellowship is offered every other year.

DC-based organizational fellowships of particular interest to Georgetown students:

• The Westwood Fellowship at Neighborhood Legal Services Program — fellows provide civil legal services to the poor; available only to graduates of DC area law schools;
• The Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program — fellows are placed with DC-area organizations to work on legal and policy issues relating to women; one fellow each year is placed with Georgetown's Domestic Violence Clinic.