Public Interest Fellowship

Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc. (GBLS) is pleased to sponsor a limited number of applicants for two nationally recognized public interest fellowship programs: Equal Justice Works and the Skadden Fellowship Program. Both programs require candidates to develop a proposed project in collaboration with a sponsoring legal organization. Please note that final fellowship selections are made by the national programs, not by GBLS. To maximize their chances of success, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact GBLS as early as possible, as time is needed to develop a project proposal that meets the interests and goals of both the applicant and GBLS. Preference will be given to early applicants.

About GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services is the oldest and largest civil legal services program in New England. Throughout its history, GBLS has remained committed to providing aggressive, high-quality civil legal representation to as many low-income individuals and families as possible.

Our clients include:

• Women and children seeking protection from domestic violence
• Families and elderly individuals facing eviction
• People experiencing homelessness who have been denied shelter
• Single parents wrongfully denied public benefits, such as welfare, SNAP, or health coverage

We also support community-based client groups such as the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and tenants of the Boston Housing Authority.

Office and Units

GBLS’ main office, located at 197 Friend Street in downtown Boston, houses our administrative staff and the following specialized legal units:

• Family Law
• Elder, Health & Disability
• Medicare Advocacy Project
• Housing
• Immigration Law
• Harvard Immigration Clinic
• Employment Law
• CORI & Re-Entry Project
• Welfare Law
• Asian Outreach Center
• Consumer Rights

Our Cambridge office consists of advocate teams that focus on:

• Family Law
• Housing
• Elder Law
• Income Supports
• Mental Health & Disability Rights

EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Program Goals

The Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program aims to:

• Serve underrepresented and underserved communities
• Create new and innovative public interest law positions
• Select a diverse group of highly qualified fellows
• Develop the next generation of leaders in public interest law

Terms of the Fellowship

• Duration: Two full years
• Compensation: Full salary provided
• Benefits: Loan repayment assistance and access to national training opportunities
• Fringe Benefits: Paid by GBLS

Eligibility Requirements

• Must receive a J.D. or LL.M. from an Equal Justice Works member law school before September 2026
• Experienced attorneys committed to public interest law are encouraged to apply

Application Procedure

Applicants must:

• Submit an online application via the Equal Justice Works website (hard copies or emails will not be accepted)
• Develop a proposed project in partnership with GBLS that serves underrepresented communities

🔗 Apply online at: www.equaljusticeworks.org

Application & Selection Timetable

Application opens

May 20, 2025

GBLS internal deadline

August 1, 2025

EJW application deadline

September 18, 2025

Fellow alumni review and scoring of applications

October 2025

Interviews for selected candidates

November 2025 – April 2026

Candidates selected on a rolling basis

November 2025 – April 2026

Fellowship start date

September 2026

How to Express Interest

Interested individuals should email a cover letter and resume to the GBLS Human Resources Team at: jobs@gbls.org

Subject line: Fellowship Opportunities

In your cover letter, please:

• Describe a proposed project idea
• Indicate your preferred unit of interest within GBLS

For more details about the Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program, please visit: www.equaljusticeworks.org

SKADDEN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Program Goals

The Skadden Fellowship Program is designed to:

• Support 2026 law school graduates and outgoing judicial law clerks
• Fund projects that provide civil legal services to underserved individuals, including:
• People experiencing homelessness
• The elderly
• Individuals with disabilities
• Those deprived of civil or human rights

Terms of the Fellowship

• Duration: Two full years
• Compensation: Full salary provided
• Fringe Benefits: Paid by GBLS

Eligibility Requirements

• Open to 2026 law school graduates and outgoing judicial law clerks
• Applicants must not receive any other fellowship or prize funding during the fellowship period
• Selection is based on:
• The worthiness of the project goals
• The applicant’s competency, character, and commitment to public interest law

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit the following in collaboration with GBLS:

• The Skadden Fellowship application
• A proposed project
• All additional required information

Email applications directly to: skadden.foundation@skadden.com

🔗 Click here to access the Skadden Fellowship Application

Application & Selection Timetable

GBLS internal deadline

August 1, 2025

Skadden Fellowship application deadline

September 19, 2025

Interview selections

Late September – Mid October

Finalist notifications

October 2025

Fellowship recipients announced

November 2025

Fellowship begins

September 2026

How to Express Interest

Interested individuals should email a cover letter and resume to the GBLS Human Resources Team at: jobs@gbls.org

Subject line: Fellowship Opportunities

In your cover letter, please:

• Describe a proposed project
• Indicate your preferred unit of interest at GBLS

For more information on the Skadden Fellowship Program, please go to https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/applicant.

At GBLS, we recognize our strength comes from the unique contributions of each team member. We invite candidates from all walks of life and backgrounds to apply.