The Racial Justice and Youth Defense Fellowship was designed in 2018 to advance racial justice advocacy in the Juvenile Justice Initiative.

During the two-year, post-graduate fellowship, the Fellow works with GJJI staff to improve the systems youth encounter through policy reform and to develop resources to help youth defenders incorporate racial justice arguments into their advocacy. The Fellow’s responsibilities include legal research and writing, project management, community outreach, and policy advocacy.

The Fellowship is open to both recent law school graduates and experienced attorneys. If you are a defender who is not seeking full-time employment, but still interested in professional development, please visit our website for opportunities like the Ambassadors for Racial Justice, the Racial Justice Webinar Series, and the YDAP Summer Academy.

The next hiring cycle for the fellowship will begin in the fall of 2025.