Public Rights Project helps talented attorneys find pathways into rewarding public service careers. We place skilled, public interest-minded fellows into a state or city government law office -- a City Attorney, District Attorney, or Attorney General -- for two years. Fellows will have the opportunity to work on a range of civil rights, economic justice, and environmental justice issues that directly impact vulnerable populations locally and across the country.
Fellows will work collaboratively alongside colleagues in their government offices on affirmative litigation, coalition building and community engagement, policy research, and other enforcement projects developed with their placement offices. They will help develop new cases and generate new ideas for their office to expand public rights enforcement.
Fellows will also publish at least one blog post, article or policy paper with Public Rights Project during their fellowship on a topic related to their work. For example, a fellow working on predatory lending may publish an issue brief identifying strategies and legal theories other state and local governments may wish to use to address the problem in their communities.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
Public Rights Project is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. We aim to assemble an applicant pool that represents the face of the world we live in. We believe that a variety of perspectives enrich the efficacy of the work of local and state governments. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for the fellowship without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, color, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.
BENEFITS
The fellowship pays a yearly stipend calculated based on the fellow’s legal experience, cost of living in the fellow’s placement city, and the average pay of other attorneys in the fellow’s placement office. Generally, the stipend will range from $60,000-80,000. Fellows will receive an additional stipend to cover health insurance costs.
LOCATIONS
During the 2018-2020 cycle, fellows will have the opportunity to work either in the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey or in the Office of Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker. Prospective fellows may apply to one or both offices.
Fellows must have an active bar membership in a U.S. state and a passion for public service. CA bar membership (for the Oakland placement) or MA bar membership or eligibility (for the MA placement) is strongly preferred, but not required.
The fellowship is likely to be ideally suited for attorneys with 3-5 years of legal experience after law school, and a background in litigation.
Please visit our website to learn more and apply: https://www.publicrightsproject.org/fellowship2/