PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT LAUNCHES 2020 FELLOWSHIP TO HELP ATTORNEYS FIND PATHWAYS INTO PUBLIC SERVICE, BOLSTER RESOURCES IN OFFICES SPANNING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
Third class of Public Rights Project Fellows expands to include new offices in Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington State
OAKLAND, Calif. (March 26, 2020) – Public Rights Project today launched the application for its third cohort of Public Rights Project Fellows. Public Rights Project will conduct a national search for full-time attorney fellows to place in local and state government law offices for two years. Fellows will work on a range of cutting-edge civil rights, criminal justice, economic justice, and environmental protection issues that directly impact vulnerable populations locally and nationwide.
Public Rights Project is a national organization that bridges the gap between the promise of the laws on the books and the lived experiences of marginalized communities by supporting state and local law offices to develop capacity to enforce civil, economic, and environmental rights of their residents.
For its 2020 fellowship class, Public Rights Project is partnering with the offices of the Boulder County (Colo.) District Attorney (20th Judicial District), Delaware Attorney General, District of Columbia Attorney General, Minnesota Attorney General, Seattle City Attorney and Suffolk County (Mass.) District Attorney. The host offices were selected as part of a highly competitive process that included applications from 23 government offices across the country.
Fellows will work collaboratively alongside their colleagues in these offices on affirmative litigation, coalition building and community engagement, and policy development. As the current public health crisis deepens, these offices are on the front lines and expanding the pool of talent to serve the public is needed now more than ever. Their work will help enforce laws that protect residents’ ability to be paid fairly, gain equal access to housing or a job, combat fraud, drink clean water, and breathe clean air. The fellows also will be engaged in work relating to reform of the criminal justice system, lawsuits challenging federal action, and development of new practice areas and systems within the offices.
“We’re excited to launch our largest cohort of fellowship placements yet,” said Jill Habig, Founder and President of Public Rights Project. “Public Rights Project continues to expand its partnerships across the country and develop a robust network to support and enhance the crucial front-line work at the state and local level. In this moment, we know it’s vital to build a deep bench of diverse talent at the state and local levels to ensure that all residents’ rights are protected, especially the most vulnerable.”
In the midst of the global COVID-19 crisis, many companies and organizations are suspending or reassessing their hiring and other programs. Public Rights Project’s ability to continue and expand its fellowship program signals how critical government lawyers are to ensuring crucial protections for all during this uncertain time.
Public Rights Project invites attorneys who have an active bar membership in a U.S. state and a passion for public service to join the fight to enforce the rights of their most vulnerable communities. Ideal candidates will have 3-5 years of legal experience after law school, a background in litigation, and a demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizations.
Once selected, Public Rights Project Fellows will be placed into a partner office and paid an annual stipend ($60,000-$80,000) for their work. In addition to the public service work they will complete at their offices, fellows will participate in an in-depth orientation and receive professional development opportunities from Public Rights Project’s national network throughout their fellowship.
Prospective applicants can apply until May 15, 2020.
QUOTES FROM PARTNER OFFICES:
“My office is fighting hard to protect Seattle’s residents on critical issues such as worker protections, environmental justice, income equality, and immigrants rights,” said Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. “We couldn’t be more proud to deepen our partnership with the Public Rights Project and build upon our capacity to serve our most vulnerable communities.”
“My office is on the front lines fighting to reform the criminal legal system every single day. A system that needs critical changes to ensure it serves and protects without harming and targeting poor, Black and Brown people. We are so excited to build a strong partnership with the Public Rights Project to enhance our resources as we work toward this critical mission,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
“Each year, attacks on Delawareans’ rights seem to become more frequent, more harmful, and more sophisticated. As the challenges facing us grow, partnerships like the Public Rights Project fellowship will be critical to the Delaware Department of Justice’s mission to defend our rights and make Delaware a more fair, equal, and just place,” said Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings.
“All Minnesotans deserve to live with dignity and respect. To do that, they need to be able to afford their lives,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. “I am excited to partner with the Public Rights Project to add a legal fellow to our Wage Theft Unit to help ensure that Minnesotans are paid the wages they’ve earned.”
“Our office is committed to enhancing public safety and improving the justice system. Fighting to protect our most vulnerable residents from wage theft and other forms of abuse must be priorities for prosecutors across the country," said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. "I am excited to work with the Public Rights Project and its broader network of law enforcement and government offices to expand the reach of our office and to strengthen our work supporting everyone in Boulder County.”
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About Public Rights
Public Rights Project is a national organization that bridges the gap between the laws on the books, what’s happening on the ground and the lack of investment and commitment by the current Federal administration to protect civil rights, economic rights, and the environment. PRP leverages untapped opportunities in state and local law offices, including City Attorneys, District Attorneys, and Attorneys General, and provides critical start up capital to help these offices increase capacity and enforcement. Public Rights Project is a project of the Tides Center, a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit organization.
For more information:
Web: https://www.publicrightsproject.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PublicRightsProject/
Instagram: #publicrightsproject
Twitter: @public_rights
Media Contact:
Jonathan Miller, jon@publicrightsproject.org
