Plan Your Legal Aid Search

First, Choose the Kind of Opportunity

A summer during law school

Look for a paid law clerk or internship role, or arrange a placement with separate summer funding. The employer and funder may have different applications.

A project after graduation

For Skadden and Equal Justice Works Design-Your-Own, you develop a project with a host before applying. Start the conversation while you are a 2L; applications for these programs close early in 3L fall.

An employer-run fellowship

Apply for an existing role, such as the FAIR Fellowship. You do not need to find a separate host or design a project.

A bridge while you take the bar

Our Public Interest Bar Fellowship has its own application and matching process. You can apply jointly with a host or follow the solo route.

A staff attorney job

Apply to the employer's advertised role and check its experience and bar-admission requirements. Fellowships are one of several ways into the field.

For a Project Fellowship, Start With a Host

Your host provides supervision and support. For a project fellowship, develop the proposal together before applying.

1. 1
   Make a short list

   Browse organizations by the issues you want to work on. Read their descriptions and websites, then check the office location and communities served. Ask about the location where a student or fellow would actually work.

2. 2
   Check what they are offering

   Look for current job or host announcements. Ask about student openings, fellowship funding and capacity to supervise your work.

3. 3
   Ask about fit and timing

   Explain your interest in their work and ask who handles student roles or fellowship projects. Confirm their internal deadline, supervision, funding plan and application requirements.

Explore California organizations

Check Eligibility Before You Apply

Read the actual posting before preparing materials. Each employer and funder sets its own requirements.

• Check the required year, degree, bar admission and work authorization. For individual eligibility or sponsorship questions, contact the sponsor and your school's specialist office.
• Send only the requested materials. Our Public Interest Bar Fellowship application does not request a GPA; other programs have their own instructions.
• Before accepting, confirm pay, benefits, payment dates and the length of funding.

Sample Materials and Application Advice

• PSJD: Applying and Interviewing

  Find public interest cover-letter tips and samples, resume guidance and interview resources. Ask your career office about access through your school.

• Equal Justice Works: Applicant Resources

  The sponsor links its applicant guide, reference application template and host guidance. Use the current cycle's instructions when preparing a real application.

• Compare the Fellowship Routes

  Check who each program is for, its funding and its application dates before deciding which materials you need.

Find Out What the Work Feels Like

You do not need to know someone in the field already. Ask your career office about alumni introductions, public interest events or a short conversation with someone doing work that interests you.

• What does a typical week look like for a student or new attorney here?
• How much time goes to client conversations, research, writing, court work or policy?
• Who gives feedback, and how do students build their skills?
• What happened after past fellows or summer clerks finished?

Civil legal aid includes direct services, litigation, advocacy and policy work. For government, private public interest firms and other paths, explore PSJD's career guides.

Meet the community at our trainings and events or explore our training library.

Keep More Than One Route Open

Apply to current jobs alongside fellowships. Before a fixed-term role ends, ask about permanent openings, references and your next search.