The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the nations leading national racial justice legal organizations. Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, the Lawyers Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real.

The Lawyers Committee annually sponsors the George N. Lindsay Civil Rights Fellowship. This year marks the first time ever the Fellowship will be a two-year fellowship. The Lindsay Fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity for recent law school graduates to become immersed in civil rights practice, working alongside many of the nations leading civil rights experts at the national office of the Lawyers Committee in Washington, DC. Our fellows are involved in all aspects of our work, including co-counseling litigation, engaging in legislative and public policy advocacy, and working to expand public education on important civil rights matters.

The Fellowships salary is on the Lawyers Committees experience-based attorney salary scale, which starts at $57,500, and is supplemented by a loan repayment benefit of $2,000. In addition, the Lawyers Committee will pay for bar review and application/admission fees. Fellows have the opportunity to contribute to our work and gain legal experience in one or more of the following project areas: Voting Rights, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice, Educational Opportunities, Public Policy, Fair Housing and Community Development, and Digital Justice.

Minimum Requirements and Competencies:

• A law degree, or expected by the spring of 2024;
• A strong and demonstrated commitment to racial justice and civil rights practice;
• Prior experience working with or ties to low-income communities of color;
• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills as demonstrated through an internship, clinical, and other work experience, writing sample, and academic record;
• Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with all Lawyers' Committee staff and to develop and maintain positive relationships with diverse clients and community organizations;
• Effective written and oral communication skills in both legal and non-legal settings; and
• At most, two years of practice by the time the Fellowship starts. Current law students who expect to graduate in the spring of 2024 are encouraged to apply.

Preference will be given to applicants who:

• Can demonstrate involvement in activities, employment, or scholarship that promote racial justice and inclusion and opportunity for historically marginalized communities; and
• Have been admitted to the bar or are scheduled to take a bar examination by the summer of 2024.

To Apply: Please submit PDF versions of the following: (1) a resume, (2) a cover letter, (3) a legal writing sample, (4) an official or unofficial transcript; and (5) a short project proposal (1-2 paragraphs) by June 12, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.The deadline will be strictly enforced. The legal writing sample must be the applicants original workplease indicate at the beginning of the document whether and the extent to which it has been edited by others. In addition, please indicate in your cover letter if you also intend to seek sponsorship from the Lawyers Committee for externally-funded fellowships.

Following the first-round review of all applications, the Fellowship Committee will select finalists. Finalists will be invited to submit additional materials, including: (1) a list of three professional or academic references or two letters of recommendation, (2) a statement of career aspirations, and (3) a short project proposal.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of applications received, please note that the Fellowship Selection Committee will not be able to inform every applicant regarding the status of their application. However, the Committee will contact all applicants when the selection of finalists has been completed. We thank you for your understanding in advance. If you have any questions about any aspect of these fellowships or the Lawyers Committee, please contact the Fellowship Selection Committee by emailing fellowship@lawyerscommittee.org.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: The Lawyers Committee embraces diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of color and candidates from underrepresented communities to apply. The Lawyers Committee does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, personal appearance, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other status protected under law.

Accessibility Assistance: Although calls will not be accepted regarding questions about the position, if you are an individual with a disability and need assistance completing the online application, please send an email to accommodation@lawyerscommittee.org with the subject line Applicant Accommodation.

Important Vaccination Requirement: The Lawyers Committee requires employees to be fully vaccinated (including all eligible boosters) against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.

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