Equal Justice Works Fellowship

Opportunity: The Project is seeking to host a law student or recent graduate for a 2-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship beginning September 2024. This is an opportunity to increase access to justice for victims of abuse through one of our proposed projects (below are just examples) or an idea of your own choosing AND work at a boutique non-profit legal services provider.

Proposed Projects:

  1. Bexar County Access to Justice Project. Fellow will work under the supervision of our Legal Director to conduct outreach with our partners in San Antonio and to identify possible family law cases in Bexar County. Fellow will conduct limited appearances for pro se litigants facing roadblocks to justice, develop best practices related to limited appearances, develop training for bar associations on limited appearances, and will recruit pro bono attorneys for TAP to implement best practices. This opportunity creates exponential impact!

  2. Hague Convention Attorney. We have started a comprehensive educational rubric on service of process. Fellow will partner with staff and outside organizations to finalize this rubric for distribution on sites such as TexasLawHelp.org, develop best practices, and train staff and possibly present at Poverty Law Conference. We are already getting referrals of these cases from Lawyer Referral Services of Central Texas, and we would like to expand that referral network. This is a huge access to justice issue that we could surgically target with your help!

Requirements: Applicants must be able to assist clients with legal issues relating to all areas of civil law as it pertains to domestic violence and sexual assault. They should be able to provide information to clients in crisis and be able to help individuals in a compassionate and respectful manner. Applicants must also be able to provide pro se litigants with legal advice and limited representation in all matters relating to domestic violence and sexual assault and draft pleadings and related documents. They must be able to travel across the state and work some weekends. Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish preferred. Knowledge of legal issues relating to domestic violence and/or sexual assault is preferred. Strong verbal and writing skills appreciated. Texas Advocacy Project is a smoke-free workplace.

Applicants must have graduated from an accredited law school (that is also an Equal Justice Works member law school) and be licensed to practice law in Texas. Candidates must NOT have held a full-time permanent public interest attorney position previously. Candidates with other law school or other bridge fellowships are eligible, as these are not presently funded positions. Candidates transitioning form the private sector are encouraged to apply, as are those in the midst of finishing clerkships. With the exception of Equal Justice Works AmeriCorp Fellowship program, candidates may not have participated in any other major fellowship program. These include Skadden, Soros, Echoing Green, etc.

Salary:  Commensurate with experience, including health insurance, malpractice insurance, CLE and State Bar dues paid, and the opportunity to participate in the Project’s matching retirement plan.  Generous paid vacation, personal leave, and holidays. Equal Justice Works offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to all fellows. Fellows attend a free three-day intensive leadership development training in Washington D.C.

Candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “EJW.” Please indicate if you are interested in one of the projects we are proposing or if you have your own idea for a project in this area of law. No telephone inquiries, please.  The application period for 2024 Fellows will be open until September 13, 2023. Please indicate how you heard about the opening.