Public Justice is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that takes on the biggest systemic threats to justice of our time–abusive corporate power and predatory practices, the assault on civil rights, and the destruction of the earth’s sustainability. We connect high impact litigation with strategic communications and the strength of our partnerships to fight these abusive and discriminatory systems and win social and economic justice.
Our Access to Justice (A2J) Project invites rising third‐year law students and law graduates to apply for an opportunity to work with us as a legal fellow on cutting-edge litigation and advocacy related to access to the civil court system. We seek to host a candidate to apply for one‐ or two‐year public interest fellowships from funders such as Equal Justice Works, and/or Justice Catalyst to begin in the fall of 2027.
Overview of Access to Justice Project
The Access to Justice Project (A2J) seeks to make the civil court system a fair, equitable, and effective tool for those with less power to win just outcomes and hold those with more power accountable.
The Project challenges and removes the key inequities that block access to justice through the civil courts and creates new opportunities to make the civil courts an effective tool for equitable justice. To achieve this outcome, Access to Justice works with a network of litigators, organizations, and others who share our vision, and in partnership with them, identifies, assesses, and prioritizes key barriers and opportunities for a just and equitable civil court system.
The Access to Justice Project works toward these goals primarily through strategic high-impact litigation, but also supports coalition advocacy and works to educate and engage on these topics. The Project’s current areas of focus are combatting the use of forced arbitration, restrictive standing doctrines, excessive court secrecy, undue limitations on class actions, limits on accountability for law enforcement and detention abuses, among other issues.
For more information about the litigation and advocacy work of the Access to Justice Project, visit our website here.
The Fellowship
Consistent with their funded project, the Fellow would work on litigation and advocacy with A2J’s staff attorneys, as well as a network of lawyers who collaborate on Public Justice’s work, other public interest groups, and our communications staff. The Fellow would also be responsible for conducting intakes and helping develop materials to educate the public and the bar about their work. This is an exempt position and will report to a Senior Attorney or Staff Attorney. We will work closely with the selected candidate to craft an appropriate project proposal for fellowship applications. Employment is contingent upon the receipt of funding from Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or a similar funder in an amount no less than $50,000 per year.
Compensation & Benefits
The Fellowship would be an exempt position that reports to the Director of Access to Justice and works closely with the attorneys of the legal projects. Our attorneys are paid on a salary scale based on years out of law school. The annual salary for an attorney who is less than a year out of law school is $84,500.
Public Justice operates as a remote organization, embracing flexibility and inclusivity that remote work offers. However, recognizing the value of in-person collaboration and the need for physical office space, Public Justice has an office in Washington, DC. Because Public Justice handles litigation, education, and advocacy nationally, the position will entail some travel.
We offer a mission-focused work environment, a teamwork and community-oriented work culture, and a competitive compensation package. We recognize and support healthy work-life balance policies, including operating on a four-day work week year-round. We also offer a generous benefits package, including flexible time off, two weeks of sick leave, all federal and some local holidays, end of the year office closure, employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance premiums for employees and eligible dependents, and a 401(k) plan.
Qualifications
J.D. degree (by Fall 2027).
Admission to a state bar or pending admission by Fall 2027.
Excellent analytical, legal research, legal writing, and speaking skills.
Litigation experience (e.g., from internships, clinics, or clerkships).
Ability to juggle multiple tasks at a time and work in a fast-paced environment.
Self-motivation and proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Sensitivity to the needs and concerns of, and ability to work well with, individuals and groups from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
Excellent attention to detail and commitment to follow-through.
Strong organizational skills.
Healthy sense of outrage and desire to change the world for the better.
Experience in civil litigation is preferred.
Willingness to travel on occasion.
Your application should consist of two electronic files:
(1) Cover letter that conveys why you are drawn to Public Justice’s mission and the objectives of this position and how your experience fits with those objectives, and well as any ideas or vision you have for your project. Please specify in your cover letter whether you are applying to work in the Washington, D.C. office or remotely.
(1) Resume.
(1) Law school transcript (official or unofficial).
(1) Contact information for three references.
(2) Separate PDF file of Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum unedited or only lightly edited by another, including a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing by someone else.
Please send your application to [email protected]. Reference “2027 A2J Fellowship” in the subject line. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by June 15, 2026, at which point applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
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