Fellowship Planning Timeline

The Public Interest Career Path: The Importance of Fellowships
For students who intend to pursue full-time public interest work immediately upon graduation, a critical piece of advice is the earlier you start planning, the better.  The public interest market is dramatically different than the private sector market that gets so much attention at Georgetown and peer schools.  The two markets operate on different time frames and demand different experiences.  Moreover, while the public interest market is more diverse than the law firm market, it is also offers fewer opportunities to graduating law students.  Many students are surprised to learn that, despite the huge disparity in salaries, public interest jobs are harder to obtain than large law firm jobs.

Another important piece of advice for public interest-minded students is post-graduate fellowships should be at the top of your list of public interest employment options to explore.  Fellowships constitute a significant share of the entry-level public interest market, and they are realistic alternatives to private sector employment.  Unfortunately, many students do not learn about them until second or third year of law school -- well after they have started down a different career track.  The time to learn about fellowships is first year so that you can compare and contrast them to other employment opportunities.

Ideally, fellowship preparation occurs along a continuum.  First year is the time to learn and think, and, time permitting, to participate in a pro bono project or internship.  The summer after your first year should be spent doing a non-profit or government internship in an area of potential interest.   By second year, you should begin narrowing down your interests and exploring post-graduate fellowship options with those interests in mind.  Academic year internships and clinics are good ways to gain additional relevant experience.  Ideally, you should spend your second-year summer working in the substantive area that you would like to be the focus of a fellowship.  Over the summer of your second year, you should have a definite plan regarding what fellowships you will be applying for, what their application requirements are, and what they look for in applicants.

This fellowship planning timeline is meant to be advisory only, and many students do not follow its prescriptions exactly.  Nonetheless, the most competitive fellowship applicants usually are those who begin preparing early and build upon their experiences as they progress through law school.  To that end, the timeline offers an "optimal" plan for fellowship planning.

(download timeline as a PDF)

FIRST YEAR

Fall

1. Learn about fellowships: what they are and what types are available
   • Browse the PSLawNet.org database and the companion PSLawNet Comprehensive Fellowship Guide.
2. Begin building a public interest resume
   • Participate in the 1L Pro Bono Project
   • Join a Georgetown Law public interest or community service student group
3. Begin thinking about 1L summer
   • >Attend World of Choices & other OPICS sponsored programs
   • Attend Equal Justice Works Career Fair
   • Identify public sector alums in the OPICS Alumni Network directory and contact them for career advice

Spring

1. Meet with OPICS Advisor to discuss summer and public interest career path
2. Conduct 1L summer job/internship search
3. Attend Fellowship Workshop and Information Sessions

Summer

1. Develop as many contacts as possible
2. Develop good relationships with possible references
3. Consider whether summer employer is potential fellowship sponsor
4. Refine interests in subject matter and type of legal work

 

SECOND YEAR

Fall

1. Begin 2L summer search as soon as ready
   • Link search with future fellowship possibilities
   • Meet with OPICS Advisor to discuss long-term interests, plans
2. Continue building public interest resume
   • Intern, do moot court, participate in other relevant activities
   • Consider clinics open to 2Ls or take required courses for 3L clinics

Spring

1. Finalize 2L summer plans
2. Attend Fellowship Workshop and Information Sessions
3. Talk with prior fellows and fellowship mentors

Summer

1. Sign up for OPICS Fellowship email group
2. Re: Project Fellowships:
   • Crystallize fellowship ideas
   • Educate yourself thoroughly about relevant programs
     1. Re-read relevant parts of this manual
     2. Read all available print information about program
     3. Read information on program website
     4. Speak with OPICS Advisor
     5. Review past applications
     6. Contact prior fellows
     7. Meet or talk with fellowship mentors
     8. Determine application deadlines and procedures
   • Contact potential organization sponsors
   • Solidify organization sponsorship as early as possible

 

THIRD YEAR

Fall

1. Re: Project fellowships
   • Secure organization sponsorship if haven't already
   • Work on applications with fellowship mentors and OPICS advisors
   • Submit applications
2. For staff attorney and clinical fellowships
   • Determine deadlines and application procedures
   • Meet with OPICS Advisor, prior fellows
   • Submit applications
3. If relevant, prepare for interviews
   • Strategize with OPICS advisors, fellowship mentors, prior fellows
   • Set up mock interview
4. Begin thinking about and pursuing non-fellowship public interest options

Spring

1. Apply for staff attorney and clinical fellowships with spring deadlines
2. Continue pursuing non-fellowship public interest options