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 2023 AFFIRMATIVE LEADERS/ PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT CONVENING
The Fellowship
Public Rights Project’s Affirmative Leaders Fellowship helps state, local, and tribal governments build capacity to protect the rights of vulnerable communities by focusing on their existing staff.
We provide six months 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.
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 3, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET. Apply before May 13, 11:59 pm ET to receive an automatic early registration rate of $3,950.
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 state, local, and tribal governments. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Professional Development
During the program, Affirmative Leaders Fellows will:
Participate in a virtual orientation, where they will meet their fellows cohort, learn from leaders in public affirmative litigation, and set goals and plan for the year.
Connect by video conference for monthly learning opportunities.
Engage in small group and open conversation sessions.
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, local, or tribal 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.
What We’re Looking For
Practicing attorneys: Licensed state, local, and tribal government attorneys of all experience levels who are seeking to develop or deepen their affirmative litigation skills. Candidates may have between 3 and 20+ years of experience. For example, some participants might be skilled prosecutors or general counsel seeking to transition to civil litigation. Others might be experienced civil litigators transitioning to plaintiff-side work or moving into government for the first time from the private or nonprofit sectors.
Supportive offices: Offices and supervisors who support an applicant’s participation in the Fellowship and the development or expansion of the office’s affirmative litigation practice.
Offices that will benefit: Government teams that are poised to benefit meaningfully from their attorney’s participation in this training program by growing their affirmative capabilities and capacity to act on behalf of their communities.
Passion about power of government to improve residents’ lives: Lawyers who want to use the law to proactively make positive change in their communities.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills: Team players who are able to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders and build trusting relationships both inside and outside their agencies.
Results-driven advocates: Public servants with the ability to achieve outcomes and results within deadlines and resource constraints.
Ability to navigate complex organizations: Candidates with a track record of being able to navigate the intricacies of government organizations and work collaboratively, both inside their offices and with outside stakeholders to solve problems and seize opportunities.
Litigation experience: Candidates with litigation experience so they can build upon it to develop an affirmative litigation practice.
Locations
Public Rights Project is a national organization and seeks applicants from state, local, and tribal public law offices - like city attorney, county counsel, district attorney and state attorney general offices - across the United States.
Program Timeline
April 1, 2024 - Application Opens
April 22 & May 6, 2024 - Information Sessions
May 13, 2024 - Early Application Deadline (reduced participation fee of $3,950)
June 3, 2024 - Application Closes at 11:59 pm ET
By June 17, 2024 - Fellowships Offered
June 27, 2024 - Fellowship Orientation Session
July 8-9, 2024 - Programming Begins
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit a resume, three short essay responses, and a letter of support from their employer indicating support for their participation in the fellowship and the development or expansion of the office’s affirmative litigation practice. Download a template for the employer support letter here.
