Legal Aid Association of California New Attorney Pipeline

Closing next FAIR Fellowship applications close October 30 in 4 days

Fellowship deadlines

For Career Services

Help students explore legal aid, prepare strong applications and plan for fellowship deadlines.

Three students talking and comparing notes on a bench beneath flowering trees.

Share a Useful Starting Point

Use these guides in an advising conversation or share the link before an appointment. Pair California-specific information here with PSJD and your school's own funding and application resources.

Plan with a student

Students can save opportunities, add school deadlines, download calendar dates and print their plan for an appointment.

Start Fellowship Planning in 2L

Skadden and Equal Justice Works require a host and a project. Help students begin those conversations in the spring, ahead of late-summer application deadlines.

Compare fellowship programs

Check Spring Funding Before Graduation

Our 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship application window ran April 3–15. Help graduating students prepare for the next cycle.

Public Interest Bar Fellowship

Advising by Year

A starting point for each year
Year Next step
1L Explore areas of law, meet legal aid attorneys, and find your first summer placement.
2L Find your next summer placement and start planning a fellowship project.
3L Compare project fellowships, entry-level jobs, and funding for bar study.
Grad Find paid legal aid experience while you prepare for the bar and your next role.

Fellowship Calendar

Filter by program, then save an upcoming deadline to your plan.

All 21 program dates.

California legal aid hiring calendar
Date Program What happens
March 18, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Information session 3pm via Zoom
March 31, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Application questions posted A PDF of the questions, so you can draft answers before the form opens
April 3, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Applications open Reviewed on a rolling basis; earlier is better
April 7, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Solo matching and interviews begin Runs to April 25
April 12, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Joint applications encouraged by this date The number of joint applicants approved determines how many solo applications can be funded
April 15, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Applications close 5:00 pm
April 27, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Fellows notified Solo matching and interviews run April 7–25
May 8, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Paperwork due
May 15, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Pre-bar requirements window opens Limited pre-bar tasks, about eight hours, due by June 30
May 26, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship First Fellow learning session May 26–29, mandatory
June 30, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Pre-bar requirements due
July, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Bar exam blackout period Fellows do not work during July
August 17, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Fellows return to their host organizations
August 31, 2026 Skadden Fellowship Applications close 11:59 pm Pacific
September 17, 2026 Equal Justice Works Design-Your-Own Fellowship Applications close Extensions are not granted
September 17, 2026 Skadden Fellowship Interview invitations sent By this date
September 22, 2026 Skadden Fellowship Interviews begin September 22 – October 13, in person
October 16, 2026 Skadden Fellowship Finalists notified By this date
October 30, 2026 FAIR Fellowship Applications close All materials must be received
November, 2026 Skadden Fellowship Selection Trustees meet The Trustees select the Fellows from the finalists
December, 2026 Public Interest Bar Fellowship Fellows celebration Placements complete October through December