Fellowships
Skadden Fellowship
Western New York, NY
Application Deadline: September annually - Contact LawNY in early summer with your application interest!
LawNY is seeking to host an applicant for a two-year Skadden Fellowship beginning in August or September. LawNY is interested in hosting a Fellow who has a passion for legal services and assisting marginalized communities address issues relating to access to justice. The Fellow should consider how to utilize and/or implement the involvement of civil legal services to address these issues. Staff members will work together across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing law-related issues affecting our clients and communities.
The Skadden Foundation will award two-year fellowships for 2021 law school graduates, outgoing judicial law clerks, and LL.M. candidates who want to work in the public interest. Applicants will develop and submit the application with LawNY as the host organization.
Equal Justice Works Fellowship
Western New York, NY
Application Deadline: September annually - Contact LawNY in early summer with your application interest!
LawNY is seeking a candidate to partner with on an application for a two-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship, beginning in September 2022. The LawNY Rochester office is interested in hosting a Fellow with a Health Law focus, and will give preference to proposals that will expand the office’s ability to assist clients with a variety of health needs and increase positive health and legal outcomes in the community.
The LawNY Rochester office is located in downtown Rochester and serves Monroe County. The City of Rochester has the fifth highest rate of poverty in the nation, with the highest rate of childhood poverty. Our staff works closely with community partners, including local hospitals, to do onsite outreach, intake, and client meetings. We assist vulnerable populations, including refugees, veterans, the homeless, and victims of crime.
Candidates must be a third-year law student, a recent graduate from an Equal Justice Works law school, or an experienced attorney who is committed to public interest law. For a list of current law school members and more information about this program and the requirements, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org.
Soros Justice Fellowship
Rochester, NY
LawNY Application Deadline: Oct. 1, 2021 (CLOSED FOR 2021) | Fellowship Application Deadline: Oct. 2021 (TBD)
LawNY is seeking to host and submit an application with an eligible candidate for an eighteen-month Soros Justice Fellowship, beginning in July-November 2022. The LawNY Rochester office is interested in hosting a Fellow with a focus on reentry and post-incarceration issues. Candidates will propose and develop their own projects.
Since 2005, LawNY’s Rochester office has assisted over 2000 individuals who exit the correctional system or have past criminal convictions who experience legal barriers to employment. From 2015-2019, advocates have secured over $319,000 in financial benefits for clients. We have prioritized this population within LawNY’s other practice groups, and we partner with a variety of organizations to ensure that the needs of individuals reentering society are met holistically. Some examples of the legal services currently provided include enforcement of New York state laws prohibiting discriminatory hiring practices against persons with criminal records; state agency denial of occupational licenses or criminal background clearances required for employment in the sectors requiring state or federal approval to work; obtaining certificates of rehabilitation; and enforcement of consumer protections.
Soros Justice Fellowship Advocacy Track I applicants must have at least two (2) years of relevant experience, which may include: full-time and part-time employment; paid or unpaid internships; sustained volunteer work; or other pertinent experience (e.g. advocacy while incarcerated). Advocacy Track I is for people at a range of phases in their careers, including but not limited to: people just entering the field following post-graduate education; advocates with a few years of work experience; and those beginning to work on criminal justice reform issues after a career in another field or after some other life experience. Individuals who are between the ages of 18– 25 and who have fewer than two years’ experience should consider applying for the Soros Justice Youth Activist Fellowships. Applicants must be able to devote at least 35 hours per week to the project if awarded a fellowship; and the project must be the applicant’s only full-time work during the course of the fellowship. Fellows cannot be full-time students during their fellowships.
Last year’s fellowship application information can be found here: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/uploads/d5dbbfc4-9d84-4aa7-a47e-1472154314ba/2019-advocacy-fellowships-guidelines-and-application-20180829.pdf
Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging Fellowship
Rochester, NY
Application Deadline: CLOSED April 1, 2021 - Contact doprobono@lawny.org with interest in applying for this fellowship in 2022
To Apply: https://borchardcla.org/fellowships/application-process
The LawNY Rochester office is seeking to host a candidate for a 12-month Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging Fellowship beginning July to September 2021 through June to August 2022. Candidates will assist with wills, powers of attorney, and other advance directives under appropriate supervision. This would also include outreach that seeks to address unmet legal needs to underserved populations including conducting one or more clinics in partnership with LawNY’s pro bono team to increase private attorney involvement and to expand the reach of clients served. The fellow would also attend a national conference on law and aging issues. Selection for the fellowship position is made by the Borchard Foundation Center-- not by LawNY. The Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging Fellowships work to help improve the quality of life for older adults, including those who are poor or otherwise isolated by language, culture, lack of education, disability or other barriers through education, research and service.
QUALIFICATIONS
Must be a recent law school graduate or graduating May 2021. A desire to increase access to justice through excellent legal representation, advocacy and service. Applicants should demonstrate commitment to working in law and aging. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Applicants must be able to devote full time hours to the project if awarded a fellowship; and the project must be the applicant’s only full-time work during the course of the fellowship.
COMPENSATION
Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging fellowships have an award of $55,000 over 12 months. LawNY provides an excellent benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, disability coverage, a flexible and accommodating work schedule, and numerous opportunities for professional development and other benefits.
LawNY will work with selected applicants and support their application for placement at LawNY. Applicants should apply directly on the Borchard Foundation Center of Law and Aging website here: https://borchardcla.org/fellowships/application-process. All proposals and applications must be received by April 1, 2021. Contact Kelly McGovern, Esq. at doprobono@lawny.org with your interest.
LawNY encourages applications from diverse candidates. LawNY welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.