Q: Is there anything or anyone Equal Justice Works will not fund?

A: Project: Generally speaking, Equal Justice Works seeks a diverse group of projects addressing issues in a broad variety of substantive areas and locations. There are, however, a few caveats:

• Equal Justice Works will only fund projects that target a population located in the United States and its territories.
• Equal Justice Works will not fund a general staff attorney position within an existing organization. The Fellowships program is about creating new public interest positions for lawyers committed to developing and leading innovative social justice projects.
• Equal Justice Works will not fund projects proposing routine criminal defense work. Projects centered on indigent criminal defense should focus on innovative services, support or delivery mechanisms that are not adequately funded by the government or that are designed to impact broad criminal justice issues. For example, Equal Justice Works has funded projects involving death penalty work, preventive strategies and systemic issues such as sentencing, alternatives to incarceration and concerns of special populations, such as juveniles and the mentally ill.

Candidate: Any law student or lawyer can apply, regardless of what month or year s/he graduated law school, so long as s/he has graduated by the fall of the beginning of their Fellowship term from an Equal Justice Works 2010-11 member law school (see next question). There are, however, two exceptions:

• An individual who has worked as a full-time, permanent employee with the host organization with whom they are applying for any length of time within one year of the application date may not serve as a Fellow at that organization. Individuals who worked as unpaid interns are still encouraged to apply.
• Equal Justice Works will not fund an applicant who has had another postgraduate fellowship through Equal Justice Works or any other major fellowship program (including Soros, Skadden and Echoing Green).

Note that this Fellowship Program aims to create new public interest positions and launch new careers, so Equal Justice Works strongly encourages recent graduates to apply.

Also note that bar passage is not required at the time the application is due. However bar passage within the first fellowship year is required if determined necessary by the host organization and by the nature of the project. Equal Justice Works recommends speaking with potential host organizations regarding their bar requirements.

Q: How do I know if my law school is affiliated with Equal Justice Works?

A: Equal Justice Works is proudly affiliated with over 150 law schools located around the country. Please visit our Member Schools list for the most up-to-date listing of participating law schools. The 2010-11 member list will be updated throughout the summer. It is important to note that a law school’s level of giving has no bearing on a Fellowship candidate’s application.

Q: What is the restriction on choosing a host organization at which I have previously been or am currently employed?

A: Equal Justice Works Fellowships are designed to create new public interest legal positions and launch new public interest careers. An individual who has worked as a full-time, permanent employee with the host organization for any length of time within one year of the application date may not be hired as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at that organization. Summer internships, work-study positions and other part-time, contract-based positions do not fall under this restriction.

Q: Are there any locations or issue areas that are more likely to be funded?

A: Equal Justice Works recruits law firms, corporations, bar associations, foundations and individuals that partner with us to fund the Fellowships. These funding partners are referred to as "sponsors." We encourage our sponsors to establish relationships with their Fellows from the beginning of the process throughout the Fellowship term. To facilitate that process, many sponsors provide us with geographic or issue preferences for their Fellowships (sponsors typically select projects based in cities in which they have offices or on issues of interest) and then participate in the interviews. Please refer to Funding Locations and Issues for 2011 for a periodically updated list of sponsor preferences for this year's application cycle.

Q: Does Equal Justice Works prioritize particular substantive issues (e.g. domestic violence v. environment) or strategies (e.g. community education v. litigation)?

A: Equal Justice Works considers a wide variety of issue areas, and candidates are encouraged to consider a multi-strategy approach. Preference will be given to projects that are designed to impact a large number of people, create programs that can be replicated in other communities, and create lasting institutions or programs.

Q: Can organizations host more than one Equal Justice Works Fellow?

A: Equal Justice Works typically awards only one Fellow per host organization each class year. However, we may award more than one Fellowship in a given class year to an organization with offices in multiple cities or with a particularly large service area. Additionally, because Fellows serve a two-year term, there may be more than one Fellow hosted at an organization at any given time if they are in overlapping class years.

Q: Can I be hosted by two separate organizations?

A: An Equal Justice Works Fellow may only be hosted by one organization. However, Fellows are encouraged to collaborate with other organizations.

Q: My Senator is very interested in hosting my project. Can congressional offices host Equal Justice Works Fellows?

A: Equal Justice Works Fellows must select nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status to serve as their hosts. Therefore, Congressional offices are not able to serve as hosts. You may want to identify a nonprofit organization that could serve as your host and design your project to collaborate with the Congressional Office. You are advised to consult with your prospective host organization in this regard, as nonprofits have heavy restrictions on their lobbying activities.

Q: Are there any restrictions on the types of activities in which a Fellow may engage?

A: In general, Equal Justice Works does not impose restrictions on the types of activities in which Fellows may engage. However, Fellows are considered employees of their host organizations; therefore host organizations that must abide by Legal Services Corporation, Internal Revenue Service or other restrictions are responsible for determining how those restrictions apply to the Fellow.

Q: I am not a recent law school graduate, but I am interested in your fellowship program. Is it too late for me to apply?

A: Equal Justice Works strongly encourages applications from candidates reflecting diverse cultural and experiential backgrounds; people with disabilities; people of diverse ethnic, racial, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds; work experiences; national origins; sexual orientations; and ages. There is no limit on the number of years out of law school, although Equal Justice Works strives to launch new public interest careers. Note, however, the restriction on full-time permanent employees of the prospective host organization and those who have previously participated in another major fellowship program.

Q: When can I view the 2011 Equal Justice Works Fellowships application, and when do I have to submit it?

A: The application will be available on the Equal Justice Works website on July 5, 2010. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to create a profile and draft an application well in advance of the deadline to get a sense for how the online application form works. Online drafts can be saved and updated on an ongoing basis until the deadline. The  application must be submitted online by 5 p.m. EDT on Sept. 15, 2010. Letters of recommendation and the Certification Form must also be submitted online by this deadline.

Q: How many letters of recommendation may I submit? Are they required?

A: Applicants may submit up to, but no more than, two letters of recommendation.  Letters of recommendation are not required, but applicants are strongly encouraged to include them. Letters arriving after the application deadline will not be considered.

Q: When will I know if I have been invited to interview?

A: Equal Justice Works will contact semifinalists throughout October, November December and January to set up interviews. Candidates not selected for an interview will receive a letter by December.  But, because Equal Justice Works conducts interviews on a rolling basis, some interviews may take place after December.

Q: Where will interviews be conducted? Will I be reimbursed for travel expenses?

A: Interviews will take place across the country between November and January. Each interview location depends upon the sponsor. For instance, a sponsor with offices in New York may choose to interview all semifinalists in New York. Equal Justice Works will make an effort to conduct the interviews in a location convenient to the candidate but will not cover travel expenses, if incurred.

Q: What will I be asked at the interview? How can I prepare?

A: Although there is no set interview format, we recommend that semifinalists practice answering generic interview questions with their prospective host organizations in preparation for the interview. Interviewees should know the proposal very well, be familiar with the proposed service area and any other legal services provided in that area, arrive at the interview location 15 minutes early and wear business attire. If selected to interview, this is your opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the proposed project. Above all, just be yourself!

Q: How does the Equal Justice Works loan repayment assistance program work?

A: Equal Justice Works provides loan repayment assistance to Fellows who qualify through its Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). The amount of assistance a Fellow will receive depends on the amount of debt, the type of loans and whether the Fellow is eligible for assistance from any other loan repayment assistance programs.  Therefore, the amount of each LRAP award varies but will not exceed $10,000 per Fellow per Fellowship year.

Q: The host organization I want to work with pays lawyers with my experience $43,000 a year, but I see that Equal Justice Works will only contribute up to $39,000 a year for my salary. Where does the other $4,000 come from?

A: All Equal Justice Works Fellows’ host organizations submit a Certification Form with the application and subsequently execute a memorandum of agreement agreeing to pay Fellows a salary commensurate to what an attorney with similar experience and/or responsibility that is a full-time permanent employee of Host Organization would be paid. The host organization also agrees to cover any salary costs over the Equal Justice Works contribution of $39,000 a year.

Q: I missed the application deadline for this year’s cycle but am interested in pursuing a project on my own. Does Equal Justice Works have any additional sources of funding?

A: Equal Justice Works currently administers three programs: AmeriCorps Legal Fellowships, Summer Corps, and Equal Justice Works Fellowships. We encourage you to use our Resources page, visit other organizations committed to providing opportunities in public interest law and social justice, such as PSLawNet and Idealist, and speak with the career counselor at your school.

Q: I want to apply for a Fellowship but am also interested in clerkships.  Will Equal Justice Works defer an offer?

A: Equal Justice Works will not defer an offer of a 2011 Fellowship to 2012.  Our funding sources vary from year to year, so we must confirm Fellows for our 2011 sponsors in this funding cycle.

Other questions? Send an email to fellowships@equaljusticeworks.org. Include your name, email address, and phone and fax numbers. If you do not have email, please leave a message at (202) 466-3686 ext. 202.