Fellowship Opportunities @ Greater Boston Legal Services

Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc. (GBLS) will sponsor a limited number of applicants for two national fellowship programs: Equal Justice Works and the Skadden Fellowship Program. Both programs require applicants to develop a proposed project with a sponsoring legal agency. Selections for the fellowships are made by the national programs and not by GBLS. Because of the time needed to develop projects acceptable to GBLS and the applicants, interested persons should contact GBLS as soon as possible. Earlier applicants will have an advantage.

GBLS is the oldest and largest legal services program in New England. Throughout its history, GBLS has been committed to providing aggressive high-quality civil legal services to as many poor people as possible. The people who seek our assistance most often are women and children who need protection from abuse; families and elderly who face eviction from their homes; the homeless who have been denied temporary or permanent shelter; and single parents who have been inappropriately refused welfare, food stamps, or medical benefits. GBLS also provides assistance to client groups such as the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and the tenants of the Boston Housing Authority.

GBLS' main office, located at 197 Friend Street in downtown Boston, houses the administrative staff and the following specialized units: Family, Elderly, Health & Disability, Mass. Medicare Advocacy Project, Housing, Immigration, Harvard Immigration Clinic, Employment, Welfare, Asian Outreach and Consumer Rights. GBLS' Cambridge office consists of advocate teams comprised of Family, Housing, Elder, Income, Mental Health & Disability Rights.

EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The goals of the Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program are to serve under represented communities; create new public interest law positions; select a diverse group of highly qualified fellows; and develop future leaders in public interest law.

Terms: Salary provided for two full years, loan repayment assistance, national training programs; fringe benefits to be paid by GBLS.

Eligibility: Must be a third-year law student, a recent graduate from an Equal Justice Works law school or an experienced attorney who is committed to public interest law. Please check the website: www.equaljusticeworks.org for a list of current law school members.

Application procedure: The application and instructions will be available online at www.equaljusticeworks.org on July 8, 2013. In addition to submitting an application and other related information, applicants should develop, in conjunction with GBLS, a new project to benefit under represented communities. Applications must be submitted online through the Equal Justice Works website at www.equaljusticeworks.org. Hard copies or email copies of the application will not be accepted.

Application and Selection Timetable:

GBLS deadline: August 14, 2013

EJW Application deadline: September 17, 2013

Interviews Begin for Selected Candidates: November 2013

Interviews continued; fellowships are offered

on a rolling basis: December 2013 – February 2014

Fellows commence work: September 2014

For more information on the EJW Fellowship Program please go to www.equaljusticeworks.org.

SKADDEN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The goal of the Skadden Fellowship Program is to provide support to 2014 law school graduates and outgoing judicial law clerks who want to work at an organization that provides civil legal services to the poor, including the homeless, the elderly, the disabled, or those deprived of their civil or human rights.

Terms: Salary and fringe benefits provided for two full years.

Eligibility: 2014 law school graduates or outgoing law clerks who are not receiving any other fellowship or prize monies for the Skadden Fellowship duration are eligible. The worthiness of the proposed project's goals as well as the applicant's competency, character, and commitment will be considered by the grant making panel.

Application procedure: Applicants should submit an application, a proposed project, and additional information in conjunction with GBLS, the sponsoring organization. Applications can be found online at www.skadden.com.

Application and Selection Timetable:

GBLS deadline: August 14, 2013

Application deadline: October 7, 2013

Finalists notified: December 6, 2013

Fellows commence work: September 2014

For more information on the Skadden Fellowship Program, please go to www.skadden.com