Equal Justice Works Design-Your-Own Fellowship

Graduating law students and recent graduates who have not held a full-time permanent public interest attorney job may apply with a legal services host organization for a two-year self-designed public interest project. Fellows must graduate from an Equal Justice Works member law school before September 2027 and partner with an eligible nonprofit host to propose work serving an unmet legal need.

Equal Justice Works provides up to $66,500 in salary support to the host organization each fellowship year for two years, plus fringe benefits through the host. About 60 new Design-Your-Own Fellows are selected annually.

Candidates design the project with their host and submit a collaborative application through Submittable; the 2027 cycle application deadline is September 17, 2026. Selection interviews with sponsors run November through April, with awards on a rolling basis.

Equal Justice Works is a national nonprofit that has supported public interest lawyers through fellowship programs since 1986.