The Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program (WLPPFP) is accepting applications from organizations located in the Washington, D.C. area that would like to host a Women's Law Fellow for the upcoming Fellowship year, which runs from the beginning of September through the beginning of August.  The Women's Law Fellows are awarded Fellowships after having completed a highly competitive selection process and have a strong interest in and commitment to women's rights, as well as excellent academic records. We anticipate that approximately four to six placement organizations will be selected for the upcoming year.  Please note that the application deadline is October 31, 2007.

The Women's Law Fellow must be assigned to work on legal and public policy issues affecting the status of women.  Your organization need not be concerned solely with women's rights issues, but the Women's Law Fellow must work on such issues.  The Fellow's responsibilities and work assignments must be substantive and challenging, providing an opportunity for significant professional growth and development. The Women's Law Fellow must be directly supervised and mentored by an experienced women's rights advocate working in your office throughout Fellowship year, who will provide guidance and feedback on the Fellow's assignments and work product. Your organization must also agree to release the Fellow for Fellowship events and seminars. 

If your organization is awarded a Women's Law Fellow, the $37,500 annual stipend will be covered by WLPPFP through a grant to your organization.  Your organization will employ the Fellow, and must agree to pay the fellow's ordinary fringe benefits, including health insurance, employment-related taxes, sick and vacation leave, and additional benefits provided to other equivalent staff positions at your organization.

WLPPFP may also be able to offer a limited number of Fellowships to public interest lawyers focusing on women’s rights who have already obtained positions working in the Washington, DC area.  These Fellowships would provide the opportunity to participate in all WLPPFP seminars, professional development training, and networking events. 

Organizations interested in applying for a Women's Law Fellow must send an email with an electronic letter of application, as well as any supplemental materials as attachments (there is no specific application form). Your application should include an express statement that you meet all requirements for receiving a Women's Law Fellow as indicated in these guidelines. All letters of application for a Women's Law Fellow and any supplemental materials should be emailed on or before October 31, 2007 to wlppfp@law.georgetown.edu.  Early applications are encouraged.  We expect to make placement decisions in the spring of 2008.

Please include the following information in your letter of application:

1.      A brief description of your organization's purpose, general method of operation, and work, including your tax status and classification under the Internal Revenue Code, and a copy of your most recent annual report, if available. A link to your website will suffice if it contains comparable information;

2.    If your organization engages in any legal work, a description of the general nature of the different kinds of legal work done by your office (e.g., litigation, amicus briefs, advocacy concerning legislation, writing newsletters on legal developments). A link to your website will suffice if it contains comparable information;

3.       A description of the work that the Women's Law Fellow would undertake;

4.      If the Fellow will be representing clients, a description of the organization's professional liability and malpractice insurance and a statement confirming the Fellow's eligibility for its coverage;

5.      The name and title of the Fellow's supervisor and a brief description of her or his work experience;

6.      A description of the office workspace and the computer the Fellow would have, including whether it is a separate office and computer or whether it would be shared with others; if so, how many other people will share the space and computer, and whether the Fellow would have access to Internet and email; and

7.      A description of the employee fringe benefits and vacation policy that would be provided to the Fellow during the Fellowship year (or a statement that your organization will cover the Fellow’s stipend as well as fringe benefits and vacation, if applicable).

The following is a list of some of the specific projects for which WLPPFP may award Fellowships for the upcoming year.  This is by no means an exclusive list.  We encourage all organizations with an interest in pursuing legal and public policy issues affecting the status of women to apply.    

Harriet B. Burg Fellowship:  WLPPFP may select a Harriet B. Burg Fellow to work on legal and policy issues affecting women with disabilities.  If you are applying for a Burg Fellow, please include a detailed description of how the anticipated work for the Fellow as described in your proposal meets the goals of the Burg Fellowship.

Rita Charmatz Davidson Fellowship:  WLPPFP may select a Rita Charmatz Davidson Fellow to work on legal and policy issues affecting low-income women.  If you are applying for a Davidson Fellow, please include a detailed description of how the anticipated work of the Fellow as described in your proposal meets the goals of the Davidson Fellowship.

Revised Oct 6, 2007 (CR)