Fellowships and federal honors programs support graduating law students, judicial clerks and public interest entrepreneurs seeking entry-level public service opportunities within existing agencies or offices. Many public interest employers have developed post-graduate fellowships to bring attorneys into their offices on a trial basis for one or two years. Often these experiences lend themselves to longer-term employment opportunities. A fellowship or federal honors position enables the recipient to:
- Develop expertise in a particular area of public interest law.
- Establish contacts for post-fellowship job openings, including within the sponsoring organization.
- Work at organizations that typically hire more seasoned attorneys, such as those that focus on civil rights and juvenile law.
Grants or seed money also support public interest entrepreneurs who launch new projects and establish public service organizations. Foundation funding encourages long-term planning and innovative approaches to complex areas of public interest concern.