Design-Your-Own Fellowship

Design-Your-Own Fellowship is sponsored by Equal Justice Works. A two-year fellowship allowing applicants to design projects addressing unmet legal needs in underserved communities.

* **85%**of Equal Justice Works Fellows remain in public service positions following their Fellowships * **60+**new Design-Your-Own Fellows join the Equal Justice Works community each year * > Thanks to the incredible work of Fellows, more people have access to critical legal services and we have more thriving communities.

**Ernest LaMont Greer** * **297**clients served, on average, by an Equal Justice Works Fellow over the course of their project View resources and information Before you start your application, we encourage you to review our **Applicant Guide**. It includes suggestions for partnering with a Host Organization, creating a competitive application, the eligibility criteria for Fellows, Host Organizations and projects, and more.

We encourage you to submit your application before the deadline to ensure successful submission. Extensions will not be granted; please plan accordingly. If you have any questions about the application’s content, please contact Equal Justice Works at **fellowships@equaljusticeworks.

org**. Watch Our Webinar Recording on How to Become a Fellow ### 2 Check Your Eligibility * Graduate from an Equal Justice Works **Member Law School**prior to September 2027 * Not have held a full-time, permanent, public interest lawyer position previously, including any other major legal fellowship.

Applicants coming from bridge/gap fellowships or clerkships, other Equal Justice Works Fellowship Programs, or the private sector are eligible to apply * Partner with an eligible legal services organization and work collaboratively on the project design * Design an innovative project that addresses an unmet legal need in an underserved community Identify the issues that resonate with your passions, your goals, and the needs of your community Fellows address a broad array of pressing legal issues, from family law and community economic development to LGBTQ+ rights and immigration.

Though the list is not exhaustive, browsing Fellow profiles to see what issues other Fellows are addressing through their work is a great starting point. Prospective sponsors also share information about their preferred issue areas and service locations. Check out our **Sponsor Preferences** for best results.

View 2027 Sponsor Preferences American Civil Liberties Union Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Uptown People’s Law Center The Chicago Bar Foundation ### 4 Find Your Host Organization **Equal Justice Works does not match Fellows with their host organizations**; rather, Fellowship candidates and organizations work together to design the project and complete the application.

Candidates may find prospective host organizations in many ways: * Contact organizations where you have previously interned * Search job boards and directories like the Public Service Jobs Directory (PSJD), the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), Idealist, and your law school’s career services office * Follow Equal Justice Works on **LinkedIn**, where we regularly share organizations’ calls for Fellowship applications You can also view past and present hosts to get an idea of eligible organizations in your area.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of organizations that are eligible or currently seeking Fellowship candidates.

### 5 Design the Fellowship Work with your host organization to design your Fellowship Our top tips for an excellent Fellowship proposal: * Paint a picture of the specific issue and community your work will address, weaving in both data and personal stories * Demonstrate an understanding of the target community by building in opportunities for collaboration with existing groups into your proposal.

* Consider whether the project will make a real difference in the issue area, and make sure the proposed strategies are attainable * Fellowship projects are meant to impact a large number of people through the implementation of an innovative program-consider the sustainability of the project beyond the Fellowship term After you submit your application, it will be reviewed by Fellow Alumni.

Applications are selected to interview with sponsors between November and April. Fellowships are awarded on a rolling basis throughout this period. ###### After the Fellowship ### Connect with Our Alumni Network After successfully completing your commitment as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, you become an alum of the organization.

You’ll be joining a network of 2,700+ passionate public interest lawyers continuing to work as key contributors to our shared vision of achieving our nation’s promise of equal justice for all. ### Additional Information ##### Applicant-Host Organization Collaboration ##### Technical Questions? ##### Interested in hosting a Design-Your-Own Fellow?