Six Harvard Law School students and recent graduates have been chosen to receive the 2008 Skadden Fellowships to support their work in public service. For the sixth year in a row, current and former HLS students won more Skadden fellowships than affiliates of any other law school.
“These students and recent graduates exemplify Harvard Law School’s commitment to public service,” said Dean Elena Kagan ’86, who has emphasized the importance of public service since becoming dean. “I hope that through the example set by our Skadden winners, and because of a genuine desire to give back, all of our students will make public service a vital part of their lives and careers.”
The following six students will begin their public interest work next fall: Elizabeth Cho ’08, Dan Farbman ’07, Lam Ho ’08, Dan Klaff ’08, Grace Spulak ’08, and Brandon Weiss ’08.
Described as a “legal Peace Corps” by the Los Angeles Times, the Skadden Fellowship program was established by the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in 1988 in recognition of the dire need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor.
The fellowship provides a $46,000 salary plus benefits for one year, with the expectation of renewal for a second year. To apply, students must create their own projects at public interest organizations with the help of at least two lawyers.
Over the last 20 years, the Skadden Fellowship program has funded over 500 law school graduates and judicial clerks to work full-time for legal and advocacy programs. Since the program’s inception, almost 90 percent of the Fellows have remained in public interest or public sector work.