Post-Graduate Public Interest Fellowships
Post-graduate public interest fellowships are an excellent way to begin your career in public interest law. Many fellowships are project-based, where applicants partner with a non-profit organization and apply for external funding based on a specific proposed project. Others are funded directly by the organization with which the fellow will work. The fellowship application process primarily takes place during the 2L summer and 3L year but it is important to foster relationships with potential sponsors as early as your 1L year.
For more general information about potential fellowship opportunities visit:
- Post Graduate Public Interest Fellowships Introduction - this is a PDF of powerpoint slides from our information session with information on types of fellowships, timelines, and resources at King Hall and beyond.
- Post Graduate Public Interest Fellowships 101 Primer
- PSJD
- Fellowship Application Timeline - this word document was created and shared by a King Hall Alum (and Skadden Fellow). These were her steps and timeline during the project based fellowship application process and you can download it to use it as a template for your own process.
- EJW Fellowships 101 Presentation
Links to specific public interest fellowship funding opportunities:
2026 Fellowship Funding
- Equal Justice Works Fellowships - Application open through September 18, 2025
- Skadden Fellowships - 2026 application TBD (2025 application closed September 6, 2024)
- Berkeley Law Foundation - 2026 application TBD (2025 application closed January 17, 2025)
- LSFN Public Interest Law Bar Fellowship Program - 2026 application TBD (2025 application in early April)
- Columbia Law School J.D. Pathways Fellowship -2026 application TBD (2025 application closed May 1)
- Soros Equality Fellowship - TBD - suspended for 2025 (usually opens in late November)
- Soros Justice Fellowship - TBD - suspended for 2025 (usually opens in late November)
- The Justice Catalyst Fellowship - 2026 application TBD (2025 application closed December 2, 2024)
2026 Post-Bar Organizational Fellowship Opportunities
- Impact for Equity - Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellowship - Chicago, IL - 2 years - applications accepted from August 1-August 20, 2025
- Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP - San Francisco - 3 year fellowship - applications due by September 1 of the year prior - 2026 application due by September 1, 2025
- California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) Rural Justice Fellowship - various - 2026 application due by Friday February 27, 2026
- Shartsis Friese LLP Public Interest Fellow
2026 Project Based Public Interest Fellowships
Below is a partial list of some organizations who have hosted project based fellowships (eg. Skadden, EJW, Justice Catalyst, etc.) in the past. Some have a two step process - first you apply to the organization to be selected as a fellowship partner, then you apply to fellowships for funding. 2026 deadlines are bolded, you can use last year's deadlines as a guide. NOTE: Please check with the organization's website to confirm deadlines and application requirements.
List of California Host Organizations (alphabetical by organization name)
For hosts in other states click here or scroll down
| Organization | Location (CA) | Deadline | Fellowships | Issue Area(s) Funded or Seeking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A New Way of Life Reentry Project | Los Angeles | EJW | Re-entry; Criminal Law | |
| Accountability Counsel | San Francisco or Washington, DC or Asia | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, etc. | Location determines issue area, see organization's webpage |
| ACLU of Northern California | San Francisco | Rolling | EJW | Civil Rights/Liberties |
| ACLU of Southern California | Los Angeles | June 28, 2024 | EJW; Skadden, Soros, others | |
| ACLU Foundation of San Diego and Imperial Counties | San Diego | Rolling no later than July 15, 2024 | Skadden, EJW, Soros Other | |
| AIDS Legal Referral Panel | San Francisco | Rolling | Skadden, EJW, Other | Various |
| Al Otro Lado | San Diego | Rolling | Skadden, EJW, Other | Immigrant rights |
| Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Los Angeles | Rolling - due 4 months prior to fellowship funding application deadline | Skadden, EJW, other | |
| Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project | Remote, location flexible | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, Justice Catalyst | Immigration, Asylum |
| The Bail Project | Los Angeles | Rolling until filled | Any | Legal Support for Bail Operations, Advocacy Support to End Cash Bail |
| Bay Area Legal Aid | Richmond | On or before July 24, 2022 | EJW, Skadden, others | Homelessness intervention and prevention in the Bay Area |
| Bet Tzedek Legal Services | Los Angeles | August 5, 2024 | EJW; Skadden | |
| California Rural Legal Assistance | various | June 30, 2025 | EJW, Skadden, others | CRLA seeks law fellows who demonstrate a strong commitment to working with rural Californians and addressing the primary issues that affect their lives. |
| California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation | Sacramento; Santa Rosa | EJW; Skadden | Farmworkers | |
| Centro Legal de La Raza | Oakland | July 27, 2023 | EJW; Skadden; Justice Catalyst, etc. | |
| Children's Law Center of California | Monterey Park | July 9, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; Justice Catalyst, etc. | CLC is specifically interested in projects that assist youth, young adults, and court involved families facing housing injustice and instability in the Los Angeles area, but will consider all applicants with a desire to work in one of our existing practice areas or locations. |
| Communities for a Better Environment | Huntington Park, Richmond or remote | September 25, 2022 | EJW; Skadden; Other | Environmental Justice |
| Disability Rights Advocates | Berkeley, New York or Chicago | Rolling/ July 22, 2024, Priority | EJW; Skadden | Disability Rights |
| Disability Rights California | Sacramento San Diego Los Angeles or Oakland | July 19, 2021 | EJW; Skadden; Other | DRC invites proposals related to the work of our Advocacy and Community Engagement Practice Group |
| Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund | Berkeley | August 4, 2023 | EJW or Skadden | DREDF works intensively with prospective fellows to develop projects that address critical disability civil rights law issues. |
| Earthjustice | San Francisco | Rolling until August 1, 2020 | EJW; Skadden; Other | Fossil Fuels Program |
| East Bay Community Law Center | Berkeley | Children; Youth | ||
| Equal Rights Advocates | San Francisco | Rolling until August 2, 2021, 5pm PST | EJW; Skadden; other | |
| Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project | Los Angeles | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Other | Esperanza will prefer projects that address issues affecting immigrants in removal proceedings due to the current immigration policies. |
| Family Violence Appellate Project | Oakland | Reviewed on rolling basis until filled | EJW, Skadden, others | Domestic Violence Survivors |
| Human Rights First (Legal Fellow) | Los Angeles or New York | ASAP | EJW, Skadden, others | asylum-related projects |
| Immigrant Defenders Law Center | Los Angeles | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Others | Immigrant Defenders Law Center happily considers requests to host individuals for fellowships, where the projects align with our areas of expertise and the fellow is able to identify their own outside source of funding. |
| Immigration Institute of the Bay Area | Various Bay Area locations | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Others | Immigration legal services, advice, and representation of low-income clients. IIBA will work with selected candidates to develop and submit proposals for fellowship funding. |
| Impact Fund | Berkeley | June 16, 2023 | EJW; Skadden; Others | |
| Inner City Law Center | Los Angeles | Rolling between April and July 2025 | Skadden; EJW; AmeriCorps | Homelessness |
| Kids in Need of Defense | Los Angeles | EJW | Immigrant Populations | |
| Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area | San Francisco | Rolling | EJW | |
| Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability | Fresno, Bakersfield, or Coachella | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, other | We welcome applications from qualified individuals who are interested in working with us to develop a fellowship proposal relating to any of Leadership Counsel’s topical practice areas |
| Legal Aid Association of California | Oakland | Spring 2021 | Skadden | Legal Aid at Work seeks to protect and expand the rights of low-wage workers, utilizing an array of strategies including impact litigation, direct services, legislative advocacy, and policy work. |
| Legal Aid at Work | San Francisco | June 10, 2024 | Skadden | Applicants are encouraged to propose and discuss project ideas in the program area(s) that they have a strong and demonstrated interest in and which address the needs faced by Legal Aid at Work’s clients. |
| Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Rolling submit early as possible | EJW; Skadden; Other | Will consider proposals in any of their practice areas and looks favorably on proposals with a strong pro bono component |
| Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County | Redwood City | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Other | Projects should focus on one of Legal Aid’s existing program areas: health, housing, public benefits, domestic violence, immigration, or education. |
| Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice - Fellowship Posting | Los Angeles | Rolling but no later than June 27, 2025 | EJW, Skadden, other | The Survivor Justice Center has particular interest in fellowship project proposals in the following areas:
|
| MALDEF | Los Angeles; Sacramento | Civil Rights | ||
| Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. | Los Angeles | September 11, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; Others | |
| National Center for Lesbian Rights | San Francisco | EJW | LGBTQ Rights | |
| National Center for Youth Law | Oakland, LA, New York, DC or AZ, CO, HI, MA, MD, MI, OR, VA, WI | July 12, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; Soros; Other | Interested in working in one or more of NCYL’s general areas of focus: Education, Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Health, Mental Health, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and Immigration. |
| National Housing Law Project | San Francisco | July 16, 2021 | EJW; Skadden; Other | Housing Issues |
| National Immigrant Justice Center | San Diego (or Chicago) | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Other | NIJC will work with candidates to develop proposals for submission, helping tailor proposals to address important immigration rights issues. |
| National Immigration Law Center | Los Angeles | Late Spring/Early Summer of the year prior to the fellowship start | EJW; Skadden; etc. | Immigrant Populations |
| Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County | Pacoima/Los Angeles | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Other | Practice areas we support include housing, immigration, family law, health, clean slate/re-entry, education (specifically unlawful school discipline), public benefits, and courthouse-based Self-Help Legal Access Centers. |
| Public Advocates | San Francisco, Sacramento, Southern California | ASAP, no later than June 28 | EJW; Skadden | |
| Public Counsel | Los Angeles | EJW/Skadden - July 1, 2025; others rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | Public Counsel will consider fellowship proposals limited to those that fall within the scope of the following projects:
We do not have an application form separate from those used by the organizations that fund the fellowships. Students who are interested in a fellowship at Public Counsel should send their resume and a brief description of their proposed project directly to the Directing Attorney of the Public Counsel project with which they wish to work. If you have a problem reaching the Directing Attorney or you have other questions, contact Kristen Jackson EMAIL HERE. |
| Public Justice Foundation - Debtors' Prison Project | Remote or Washington, DC | June 12, 2025 (rolling basis until filled after) | EJW; Skadden; Others | We will work closely with the selected candidate to craft an appropriate project proposal focused on a specific area of our work, ideally in a single jurisdiction. |
| Public Rights Project | Oakland, New York, & Boston | ASAP | Justice Catalyst, Skadden, EJW, other | High-impact affirmative litigation by state and local governments |
| Root & Rebound | Oakland, Fresno, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Greenville South Carolina | Rolling by August 15, 2021 | EJW; Skadden; Soros; others | Support and legal advocacy to people with arrest and conviction histories |
| Social Justice Collaborative | Berkeley | Rolling | EJW, Skadden | See website |
| Transgender Law Center | Oakland | Rolling | EJW | Trans Issues; LGBTQ Rights |
| Veterans Legal Institute | Tustin | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; Other | Previous VLI EJW fellows have focused on preventing eviction, VA benefits appeals, assisting survivors of military sexual trauma, discharge upgrades, estate planning, bankruptcy, immigration and staffing legal clinics. |
| Wage Justice Center | Los Angeles | Rolling | Skadden; EJW | Workers’ Rights |
| Western Center on Law & Poverty | Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland | Rolling | Skadden, EJW, other | Project proposals should combine litigation, legislative, and administrative advocacy with community outreach, public education, and other needed services related to housing, healthcare, economic justice, and/or access to justice. |
List of Host Organizations outside California (Listed by State)
Skip to: A C D F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W
| Organization | Location | Deadline | Fellowships | Issue Area(s) Funded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MULTI-STATE | ||||
| A Better Balance | Remote - offices in Nashville, DC, New York, Denver
| June 1, 2025 | EJW; Skadden; others | The chosen candidate will work with ABB to create and submit a project proposal to fellowship funders. Although we are open to developing a project in any area of ABB’s work, we are particularly seeking candidates to collaborate on projects that fall within the following areas:
|
| ACLU | Various States | Priority deadline varies by state
| EJW; Skadden; others | Various |
| Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) | Various | Rolling | EJW; Skadden | Efforts to fill gaps in legal representation for asylum-seeking families |
| Earthjustice | Alaska; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA | Rolling until August 1, 2020 | EJW; Skadden | |
Arizona | ||||
| Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project | Various cities, AZ | June 25, 2021 | EJW, Skadden, Justice Catalyst, others | Border Advocacy, Children's Rights, Crimmigration, Detained Migrant Women (Cis & Transgender), Detained LGBTQ+ Migrants, Due Process Issues, Mental Health Advocacy |
Colorado | ||||
| Community Economic Defense Project | Denver, CO | Rolling, must be received by May 30, 2025 | EJW, Skadden, Justice Catalyst, other | Our practice is seeking a Homeowner Services Legal Fellow to help us stabilize low-income homeowners and/or mobile homeowners in Colorado. We welcome ideas for this fellowship application, but there is no need to have a fully formed project proposal before reaching out to us! Big picture, this project could focus on:
|
Delaware | ||||
| Delaware Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. | Wilmington, DE | July 5, 2025 | Skadden, EJW, Others | Poverty/disability/elder law. Although we ask that you describe any ideas you have regarding a fellowship proposal, please note that it is not necessary to have a proposal at this stage of the application process. |
Florida | ||||
Georgia | ||||
| Southern Center for Human Rights | Atlanta, GA | Not hosted in 2024 | EJW; Skadden | criminal justice |
Illinois | ||||
| ACLU of Illinois | Chicago, IL | August 1 Priority | EJW; Skadden; others | |
| Ascend Justice | Chicago, IL | July 12, 2024 | EJW; Skadden | |
| Chicago Coalition for the Homeless | Chicago, IL | October 30, 2020 | EJW; Skadden; others | Homeless advocacy |
| The Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. | Chicago, IL | June 15, 2021 | EJW; Skadden; others | Hate crime, Housing Opportunity, education equity |
| Corporate Accountability Lab | Chicago, IL | Rolling | Justice Catalyst, others | Legal Fellows will assist CAL in pursuing international supply chain transparency, exploring innovative civil litigation ideas, and developing new strategies for human rights and environmental accountability across the globe. Note that because most of our work is international in nature, past fellows have been ineligible for Equal Justice Works and Skadden fellowship funding. |
| Impact for Equity | Chicago, IL | ASAP between April 30 - August 1 | EJW; Skadden; Others | |
| Legal Aid Chicago | Chicago, IL | July 15, 2025 | EJW or Skadden | We are open to hosting fellows in any of the areas where Legal Aid Chicago practices. |
| The Network | Chicago, IL | June 30, 2024 | EJW | |
Kansas | ||||
Louisiana | ||||
| Louisiana Capital Assistance Center | New Orleans, LA | Rolling | Skadden, EJW, Soros | capital defense |
Maryland | ||||
| Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | July 15, 2025 | EJW, Skadden, Justice Catalyst | We are especially interested in supporting fellowship applications that use a mix of legal and community-based tools to advance migrant justice. |
| Tahirih Justice Center | Baltimore, MD | August 1, 2018 | EJW; Skadden; others | immigrant women, humanitarian immigration for women |
Massachusetts | ||||
| ACLU of Massachusetts | Boston, MA | Rolling no later than July 19, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; others | ACLUM welcomes applications on any significant issue involving civil rights or liberties. |
| Community Legal Aid | Worcester, MA | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | Civil rights, civil liberties |
| Conservation Law Foundation | Boston, MA (or New Haven, CT; Montpelier, VT; Concord, NH; Portland, ME; or Providence, RI) | Applications will be reviewed after July 1 and will select candidates by August 1 | EJW: Skadden; others | Environmental Advocacy |
| Greater Boston Legal Services | Various, MA | ASAP, no later than July 31, 2024 | EJW; Skadden | Various poverty law issues |
| Just Futures Law | Canton, MA | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, others | disrupting the role of surveillance tech in immigration policing, challenging activist retaliation, gang policy accountability, combating ICE & local police collaboration |
| New England Innocence Project | Boston, MA | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | Wrongful convictions |
Michigan | ||||
| ACLU of Michigan | Detroit, MI | July 7, 2024 | Skadden, Sorros, EJW, Justice Catalyst, other | We welcome applications with project proposals relating to any civil rights or civil liberties area. |
Mississippi | ||||
| ACLU of Mississippi | Jackson, MS | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | |
Missouri | ||||
New Jersey | ||||
| ACLU of New Jersey | Newark, NJ | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | We prefer to develop proposed projects that combine legal advocacy and impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education. |
| Education Law Center | Newark, NJ | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, other | Our fellows gain practical experience defending and expanding education rights and racial equity by working on lawsuits, advocating for clients, and engaging with our policy and communications teams on advancing legislation and public education. We will work with successful applicants to develop a project proposal for specific funding organizations |
New York | ||||
| The Bronx Defenders | Bronx, NY | July 1, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; others | |
| The Center for HIV Law & Policy | New York, NY | Rolling | Skadden, EJW, Soros, others | HIV Law & Policy |
| Center for Reproductive Rights | New York, NY | Rolling until filled | Skadden, EJW, Soros, others | Reproductive rights, international human rights |
| Human Rights First | New York, NY | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | Refugee and Immigration |
| Legal Services NYC | Bronx Branch | Rolling | EJW; Skadden; others | Your application must include a detailed project proposal, which fits within one of the priority areas. Specifically, we are seeking fellowship applicants for our Community Neighborhood Stabilization, Education, LGBTQ Advocacy, Public Benefits and Universal Access to Counsel (“UAC”) Projects. |
| Make the Road New York | Various, NY | July 3, 2023 | Skadden, EJW, Kirkland & Ellis, others | |
| National Center for Law and Economic Justice | New York, NY | July 14, 2023 | Skadden; EJW; Justice Catalyst, others | |
| National Employment Law Project | New York, NY | Rolling no later than August 1, 2023 | Skadden; EJW; Other | |
| New York Civil Liberties Union | New York, NY | June 15, 2025 | Skadden, EJW, Soros, others | We seek candidates willing to collaborate with the NYCLU to shape the project proposal through the funding application process. |
| New York Lawyers for the Public Interest | New York, NY | Rolling, no later than July 26 | Skadden; EJW; Other | Health Justice, Disability Justice, and Environmental Justice |
North Carolina | ||||
| Southern Coalition for Social Justice | Duram, NC | Review begins July 24, 2023, rolling thereafter | EJW, Skadden, Justice Catalyst, others | |
Ohio | ||||
| Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. | Toledo, OH | ASAP, no later than July 22, 2022 | Any | Candidates for fellowships are encouraged to develop and bring forward proposals for work in an area of poverty law |
Oregon | ||||
Pennsylvania | ||||
| Community Legal Services, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | June 6, 2025 | Skadden, EJW, Others | Fellows will be placed in one of our 8 practice areas: Employment (including wage theft and criminal records expungement), Energy, Family Advocacy, Health and Independence, Home Ownership and Consumer Rights, Housing, Medical-Legal Partnership, and SSI Disability. |
| Education Law Center | Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, PA | Rolling - preference if received by July 5, 2024 | Skadden, EJW, Others | |
| The Public Interest Law Center | Philadelphia, PA | June 9, 2025 | Skaden, EJW, Others | The Law Center will consider proposals in one or more of our six areas: Education (including Special Education), Employment, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Housing, and Voting. Candidates are encouraged to provide ideas for a project, which need not be a fully developed proposal at the time of application. |
South Carolina | ||||
Tennessee | ||||
| Youth Law Center | Tennessee | June 30, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; others | project related to access to civil legal aid for juvenile justice impacted youth in Tennessee |
Texas | ||||
| Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid | Various | August 1, 2025 | EJW, Skadden, Soros, other | TRLA will also support selected applicants through the fellowship application, including developing a proposal and the interview process |
Vermont | ||||
Virginia | ||||
| Legal Aid Justice Center | Charlottesville, Richmond, or Falls Church, VA | July 15, 2024 | EJW; Skadden; Other | Civil Rights & Racial Program, Housing & Consumer Justice Program, Worker Justice Program, and Racial Equity |
Washington | ||||
Washington, DC | ||||
| The Arc | Washington, DC | Rolling, priority for those received by July 1, 2024 | EJW, Skadden, other | The Arc is looking to host a Fellow and develop a fellowship project to engage in new and ongoing education outreach, advocacy, and litigation centered on ensuring the rights of students with disabilities to receive an education in the most integrated setting with the supports and services needed to thrive. |
| The Campaign Legal Center | Washington, DC | Rolling | Skadden; EJW; other | CLC is seeking applicants interested in all of our issue areas: campaign finance, voting rights, redistricting, and ethics. |
| D.C. Law Students in Court Program, Inc | Washington, DC | Rolling until position is filled | Skadden, EJW, Soros, other | Landlord-tenant, housing, other justice reform |
| EarthRights International | Washington, DC | July 26, 2024 | Skadden; EJW; Justice Catalyst; others | |
| Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) | Washington, DC | Apply early | Skadden, EJW, Soros, Other | Civil Rights Civil Liberties, Intellectual Property |
| Fair Elections Center | Washington, DC | Rolling | Skadden, EJW, Other | Litigation against barriers to voter registration and voting |
| Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law | Washington, DC | July 26, 2024 | Skadden; EJW; Soros; Justice Catalyst; others | One or more of the following projects: Voting Rights, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice, Educational Opportunities, Public Policy, Fair Housing & Community Development, or Digital Justice. |
| Muslim Advocates | Washington, DC | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, other | Civil rights, civil liberties, litigation, policy |
| National Center for Transgender Equality | Washington, DC | Rolling | Any outside funding | transgender; LGBT, Health Care, privacy, Civil Rights |
| National Women's Law Center | Washington, DC | July 26, 2023 | EJW, Skadden, other | |
| Neighborhood Legal Services Program | Washington, DC | August 8, 2025 | EJW, Skadden | NLSP will consider well-researched and impactful projects touching on any areas of our practice including family, domestic violence, and housing law, or economic security issues. |
| Public Justice Foundation - Debtors' Prison Project | Washington, DC | June 12, 2025 | EJW, Skadden, Other | We will work closely with the selected candidate to craft an appropriate project proposal focused on a specific area of our work, ideally in a single jurisdiction. |
| Rights Behind Bars | Washington, DC | Rolling | EJW, Skadden, Soros, Other |