As you develop your plans for your post-graduate public interest job search, you may be considering applying to fellowships, government honors programs, and/or direct entry-level positions. Along with these options, you may be wondering about whether to include clerkship applications.

We strongly encourage you to apply for fellowships to support the work that excites you. Because many fellowships require you to pursue a project with a host organization and some fellowships have very early deadlines, it is important to begin preparing NOW.

Have you been interviewing for summer internships, or even accepted an offer? Still seeking a position? If you haven't reported your summer internship status (or haven't done so recently), please fill out this brief survey to let OCS and OPIA know where you stand.  

While you may have just finalized your internship plans for this summer, we know that many of you are already thinking ahead to 2L summer and weighing the pros and cons of spending it in the private sector. In this post, we offer some thoughts you may find helpful as you consider whether to participate in the Early Interview Program (EIP).

The shifts in federal government policy towards summer law interns this year has necessitated reimagining this year’s Heyman Summer Interns Program to be both more virtual and more inclusive.  The prior application deadline of February 13th has been waived.  Please stay tuned for additional information in the coming weeks/months as to what the program may look like and how you can participate.

In light of the federal hiring freeze and related actions, the Heyman Fellowship Program has been suspended for the 2025 fellowship year.  If you are a 3L, feel free to make an appointment with an OPIA adviser or come to a drop-in hour if you need assistance.  If you are an HLS alum in need of public interest career support, please reach out to OPIA for an appointment.

Because many fellowships require you to pursue a project or position with a host organization and some fellowships have early deadlines, it is important to begin preparing during your 2L spring for the fellowship application process.

We are often asked by students interested in public service work about how to weigh their wide-ranging academic options while in law school. This advice is meant to offer broad guidance on the choices you may be contemplating. Please note that it is impossible to truly provide “one-size-fits-all” advice — if you have questions about particular options and how they might relate to your career plans, be sure to seek out an OPIA adviser. 

James & Hoffman PC, a law firm in Washington, DC that represents workers and labor unions, is hiring law students to assist with intake.  The firm is currently working to meet high demand from probationary federal employees who have lost their jobs and are seeking legal help.  Students will earn $20/hour.  Email firm associate Emily Postman at erpostman@jamhoff.com to inquire.

OPIA has compiled a few key dates that may be useful as you plan your summer internships and other commitments.

Some public sector employers who participated in the V-SIP resume collection have extended their deadlines to receive materials up until February 28th. Review the list of participating organizations below - and the class years they are recruiting - and follow Step 5 of the step-by-step instructions on submitting bids through the public sector V-SIP program. Submit your bids through Symplicity CSM.

We know it may seem early to start thinking about your post-graduate job search as a 2L. However, your 2L spring is the best time to check out our 3L Guide to Entry-Level Post-Graduate Jobs, start monitoring fellowship and entry-level job deadlines, and make an appointment with an OPIA adviser to position you for success in your search.

If you haven’t yet secured an internship for this summer, don’t panic. There are still public interest employers that are actively hiring in March and even in April. If you put in the effort, apply broadly, and remain persistent, you WILL find a summer job.

Due to federal hiring changes impacting in-process summer employment searches, judicial clerkships/internships will be eligible for summer public interest funding (SPIF) for the summer of 2025. Internships with a judge or court are typically not funded by SPIF, with the exception of international war crimes and human rights courts that involve more than one country.

The Henigson Fellowships require pre-review approval at least a month before they are due. Consult with HRP Associate Director Abadir Ibrahim.

Equal Justice America's fellowship program offers summer fellowship grants up to $5,000 for 10 weeks of full-time work. To apply, students need to have placement lined up with an organization that provides civil legal assistance to people in need. The deadline to apply is March 24, 2025.

For more information, please visit Equal Justice America's website.

Please note that applications for the following OPIA-administered fellowships are due in February:

Public Service Venture Fund Org-Based Fellowship
February 7, 2025, 5:00 pm 
PSVF Org-Based Fellowships are intended to help launch students’ and judicial clerks’ public interest careers at the public service organization of their choice that otherwise is not hiring at the entry-level.

• Youth Summer Fellowship, Indigenous Peoples & Minorities Section - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Priority Deadline: February 3, 2025

• Youth Summer Fellowship, Humanitarian Funds (against Slavery & Torture) - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Priority Deadline: February 3, 2025

• Legal Intern, Programmes & Projects Team - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Deadline: January 31, 2025

• Legal Intern, Administrative Law Team - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Deadline: January 31, 2025

• Legal Intern, Corporate and Institutional Law Team - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Deadline: January 31, 2025

If you have questions or concerns about your summer job search, please make an appointment or visit our daily drop-in office hours. Advisers are available to help with whatever job search questions you may be facing.

Networking is an essential part of getting to know the world of public interest law. But sometimes, it can feel intimidating to approach a potential contact, or hard to know where to plug in and get started. Review this Q&A to help make networking a smoother part of your professional journey.

OCS and OPIA will be hosting a virtual Spring Interview Program (SIP) featuring both private and public sector employers recruiting for summer and postgraduate positions. Bidding will take place in early January, with virtual interviews being held in early February. In conjunction with the Virtual Spring Interview Program, there will be virtual employer chats with public sector employers on January 14th and 15th that students may register for in advance. More details about these employer chats, including who will be participating, and how to sign-up, will be shared in early January.