WLPPFP Fellowships

September 2010 through August 2011

The Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program (WLPPFP) offers Fellowships for public interest lawyers from the United States who are committed to advancing women's rights throughout their careers.  Throughout the Fellowship year, participants gain invaluable experience by working on women's issues in Washington, D.C. with a public interest organization or governmental agency and by participating in educational and professional development opportunities provided by WLPPFP.   The deadline for applications for the 2010-2011 Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program is Monday, November 2, 2009. We will accept applications after the deadline, but it will benefit applicants to submit their application materials as soon as possible.

The Fellowships are determined each year based upon several factors, including the interests of the top Fellowship candidates, the potential placement organizations, and the donors supporting the Fellowships.  Since the establishment of the Program, WLPPFP has been fortunate to be able to place a Women's Law Fellow each year with the Georgetown University Law Center Domestic Violence Clinic, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and the National Women's Law Center - three preeminent women's rights entities in Washington, DC.  The Program periodically offers specially designated Fellowships, such as the Rita Charmatz Davidson Fellowship addressing the rights of low-income women; the Harriet B. Burg Fellowship addressing the rights of women with disabilities; Fellowships focusing on issues concerning women and HIV/AIDS; etc.  All Fellowships provide an incomparable opportunity to work with leaders in the women's legal community, to gain tremendous experience promoting women's rights, and to sharpen leadership and advocacy skills through in-depth training sessions provided by the Program. Applicants should indicate in the appropriate section of the application form whether or not they wish to be considered for Fellowships focusing on specific issues. Indicating interest in more than one issue will not jeopardize a candidate's consideration; on the contrary, doing so may facilitate the Program's ability to match the candidate with a Fellowship. The Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program makes every effort to accommodate the Fellows' placement preferences. However, the Program cannot guarantee any particular placement organization, even if an applicant has a prior relationship or connection with an organization involved in legal and policy issues affecting women.

All but one of the Fellowships are one-year positions, commencing at the beginning of September and running through the end of August the following year. The Georgetown University Law Center Domestic Violence Clinic Teaching Fellowship is a two-year teaching position commencing at the beginning of August and leading to an LL.M. degree. Applicants for the Domestic Violence Clinic Teaching Fellowship must be admitted into a bar by December of the year prior to the start of the fellowship (in order to permit waiver into the DC Bar before the beginning of the fellowship).  Questions specifically about the Domestic Violence Clinical Fellowships may be directed to the Domestic Violence Clinic at 202-662-9640.

All of the Fellows participate in numerous Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program events throughout the Fellowship year, such as an orientation, bi-weekly seminars, skills-building trainings, and other activities organized by the Program. For example, in prior years the Fellows have met with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and other leaders in the legal field addressing women's rights and related social justice issues. The Fellows also have an opportunity to audit courses related to women's rights at the Georgetown University Law Center and to attend other events at the law school. Except for the Domestic Violence Clinic Teaching Fellowship, no law school course work is required and no degree will be awarded.

Applicants must either be in their final year of law school or be a law school graduate, and must show a demonstrated commitment to advancing women's rights throughout their careers.  Applications must be postmarked by the deadline, and early applications are encouraged.  Fellowship selection will be conducted throughout the spring and summer.  Depending on the availability of funds, approximately six applicants will be awarded Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowships, which will carry a stipend of about $37,500. The placement organizations employ the Fellows and provide standard fringe benefits. WLPPFP may also be able to offer a limited number of non-stipend Fellowships to public interest lawyers focusing on women’s rights who have already obtained employment in the Washington, DC area.  The non-stipend Fellowships provide Fellows with the opportunity to participate in all WLPPFP seminars, professional development trainings, and networking events.

Please note:  due to limited staffing and the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to notify applicants who are not awarded a Fellowship position, or to respond to inquiries from applicants (although questions specifically about the Domestic Violence Clinical Fellowships may be directed to the Domestic Violence Clinic at 202-662-9640).