Training and fellowships

The fellowship runs for four months, starting at the end of July 2025 and wrapping up in November 2025.

PRP offers need-based full and partial scholarships to enable participation as broadly as possible. If you require financial assistance, please indicate this need on the program application. We encourage you to get in touch for more information if you have funding concerns or questions, and to submit an application regardless of ability to pay.

Fellows, through their offices, are asked to contribute a participation fee of $1,950.

With civil rights under attack at the federal level, we know that more than ever, government lawyers need the tools, training, and community this fellowship provides. To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we’ve worked hard to offer a sliding scale for participation and full scholarships to further eliminate financial obstacles and empower as many dedicated advocates as possible.

States, cities, and tribes defend their communities against discrimination, fraud, and disenfranchisement. Affirmative Leaders Fellows receive training and support to help them expand enforcement efforts, protect their residents, and grow the impact of a city or state’s legal work. They develop and hone skills to advance new legal theories and enforcement strategies so their offices can be more proactive in using the law to address their communities’ needs.

During the four-month long program, Affirmative Leaders Fellows will participate in a series of virtual trainings and workshops focused on developing and improving their affirmative investigation and litigation skills. Fellows will grow their skill set and enrich themselves as public lawyers. They will also enhance their ability to serve their communities by taking proactive steps to advance public rights using litigation tools.

Specifically, 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 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.

Professional development and public lawyering does not fit neatly into a specific time-frame. Accordingly, Affirmative Leaders Fellowship alumni will continue to benefit from having participated in the program. As alumni of the program, 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.

The fellowship provides low-cost professional development for prosecuting affirmative civil cases for offices that have never engaged in this type of work before. It also serves as a professional boot camp for attorneys in offices with more experience but who have not themselves participated in this type of work.

Yes. Fellows remain employed by and stationed at their offices throughout the fellowship.

Fellows are selected using criteria that include:
. Practicing attorneys
. Supportive offices who will benefit from an attorney participating in this program
. Passion about government power to improve people's lives
. Effective advocacy
. Interpersonal and communication skills
. Ability to navigate complex organizations
. Litigation experience

Orientation and all its session will be virtual, offered through our private, online community called PRP U. Fellows will be provided a calendar for all sessions at the start of the fellowship.

Please complete the interest form, and we will share information about registration for the 2026 fellowship when it becomes available. You can also email us at support@publicrightsproject.org for a prompt reply.