Affirmative Leaders Fellowship
PURPOSE
The Affirmative Leaders Fellowship aims to:
Advance Justice & Equality at the State & Local Level
Support Offices Seeking to Improve Affirmative Litigation Skills & Strategy
Expand a National Network of Public Impact Litigators
The fellowship
Public Rights Project’s Affirmative Leaders Fellowship helps state and local government offices build capacity to protect the rights of vulnerable communities by focusing on their existing staff.
We provide one year of training and professional development, plus access to a national network of impact litigators within government, to current state and local government attorneys. This support enables fellows to initiate, expand, or deepen the impact of their office’s equitable enforcement work. Affirmative Leaders Fellows work on a range of civil rights, economic justice, and environmental justice issues that directly impact vulnerable populations in their communities and across the country.
Affirmative Leaders Fellows will strengthen and apply skills in affirmative impact litigation, coalition-building and community engagement, policy research, and public leadership.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
Public Rights Project is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. We aim to assemble an applicant pool that represents the face of the world we live in. We believe that a variety of perspectives enrich the efficacy of the work of local and state governments. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Professional Development
During the year-long program, Affirmative Leaders Fellows will:
Participate in an orientation, where they will meet their fellows cohort, learn from leaders in public affirmative litigation, and set goals and plan for the year.
Join at least 2 other in-person convenings to learn concrete skills necessary to be an effective government plaintiff, like initiating and managing investigations, taking testimony, negotiating settlements with a government client, leveraging your influence through amicus work, and interpersonal skills like leadership development.
Connect by video conference for monthly learning opportunities.
Receive one-on-one mentoring focused on developing an affirmative litigation practice.
Carry out affirmative work in their offices that gives them a chance to apply their skills and improves the lives of vulnerable residents in their communities.
BENEFITS
As Affirmative Leaders Fellowship alumni, former fellows will:
Continue to have access to Public Rights Project’s network of public impact litigators.
Receive discounts on and access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
ELIGIBILITY
Fellows must be current employees of a state or local government law office with an active bar membership in the jurisdiction where their office is located. At least part of their job description should include or will include affirmative litigation. The fellowship is likely best suited for attorneys who have newly joined a government office or who have recently moved within government to a new or expanded affirmative litigation role.
LOCATIONS
Public Rights Project is a national organization and seeks applicants from state and local public law offices - like city attorney, county counsel, district attorney and state attorney general offices - across the United States.
