Spotlight on Post-Graduate Fellowships

The following is a blog post originally posted in February 2010. 
 
For many law students looking for public interest work after graduation a fellowship can be the best way to gain an entry-level position with a nonprofit. While many public defender offices and legal services agencies hire new attorneys each year, many other public interest organizations do not. Fellowships typically last for one or two years and may not lead to permanent positions within the organization, however they provide new attorneys excellent training and exposure to a particular field which will make them better qualified for other positions within the public interest arena.

In general, fellowships fall into two categories: organization-based or project-based. An organization-based fellowship is sponsored by the organization for which the fellow is working. A project-based fellowship is sponsored by an outside organization and allows the fellow to work within a host organization on a specific project within a particular area of law or serving a particular community. PSLawNet provides an informative overview of public interest fellowships and is also the best resource for finding positions and sponsoring organizations.

For further information on applying for a post-graduate fellowship attend the CSO/PILA program Fellowship Application Tips, Wednesday, October 27th, 5:00pm - 6:00pm in the Cherry Room.