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Training and fellowships

Our fellowship and online training programs help local government attorneys build and strengthen their affirmative litigation skills in the areas of reproductive, voting, and workers' rights. Apply for the 2025 cohort by June 13, 2025.
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Large group of fellows in tshirts that read 'Seeking Justice'

Public Rights Project’s Affirmative Leaders Fellowship (ALF) and other learning programs are geared toward current state, local, or tribal government attorneys looking to deepen their commitment to civil rights. This support enables fellows to initiate, expand, or deepen the impact of their office’s equitable enforcement work.  

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

Fellows strengthen and apply skills in affirmative impact litigation, coalition-building and community engagement, policy research, and public leadership.

Committed to using government power for good
Committed to using government power for good
Committed to using government power for good
Committed to using government power for good
Committed to using government power for good
Berbeth Foster
“We see litigation as a vital aspect to protecting the rights of all the community organizers we work with, ensuring they have the right to protest in the streets of Florida, but also the right to appeal to their local governments as they seek to reimagine public safety.”
Berbeth Foster Senior Staff Attorney
Community Justice Project
  • 53M people served by our network
  • 227 government offices in our network

Impact

Impact
Since 2017, we’ve been the only national organization working at the intersection of community organizing and state, local, and tribal government enforcement. Our recent accomplishments include the following:
Number of new ALF fellows in 2023
Total fellows
States represented in 2024

Nominate a fellow

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Nominate a fellow
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Fellowships

Public Rights Project’s Affirmative Leaders Fellowship is for mid-career government attorneys who want to grow their leadership capacity and build a community of like-minded peers.
Learn more

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the Affirmative Leaders Fellowship application deadline?

    Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  • Does PRP offer scholarships to the program?

    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.

  • How does an Affirmative Leaders Fellow advance public rights?

    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.

  • What are the advantages of becoming a fellow?

    Affirmative Leaders Fellows will:
    . Participate in monthly learning sessions
    . Engage in small group and open conversation sessions
    . Carry out affirmative work to improve their communities

    As alumni of the program, former fellows will:
    . Have access to PRP’s network of public impact litigators
    . Receive discounts on and access to professional development

  • What are the advantages to offices for having their staff participate in ALF?

    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.

  • Do fellows stay in their government jobs while participating in this program?

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

  • What is the criteria to be accepted as a fellow?

    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

  • Where will the programs take place?

    Orientation for the fellowship will be virtual. The in-person convening will take place either in Oakland, California, or at another location, to be announced. Fellows will be provided a calendar for the year at the start of the fellowship.

  • Other questions?

    We're here to help. Email fellows@publicrightsproject.org with further inquiries.