Access to Justice Legal Fellow (Fall 2027)

About the Organization

Public Justice is a nonprofit legal advocacy group dedicated to tackling major systemic injustices, including abuses of corporate power, threats to civil rights, and environmental harms. It combines impactful litigation, strategic public messaging, and strong partnerships to address discriminatory systems and promote social and economic equity.

Access to Justice Project Overview

The Access to Justice (A2J) Project aims to ensure that the civil court system serves as a fair and effective mechanism for individuals with less influence to achieve just results and hold powerful entities accountable. The project targets critical barriers within the civil courts, such as forced arbitration, limited standing doctrines, excessive court secrecy, restrictions on class actions, and restrictions on accountability for law enforcement abuses.

Working collaboratively with a broad network of litigators, organizations, and advocates, A2J pursues strategic high-impact litigation, engages in coalition advocacy, and conducts education and public engagement to advance equitable access to justice in civil courts.

Fellowship Role

This fellowship opportunity is intended for rising third-year law students or recent law graduates who will work closely with A2J’s legal team and partner organizations on litigation and advocacy related to civil court access and reform. The fellow’s responsibilities include casework, public and bar education materials development, and intake assistance. The fellow will report to a Senior or Staff Attorney and will collaborate extensively across the organization.

The position is contingent on securing funding from sources like Equal Justice Works or Justice Catalyst for one or two years starting in Fall 2027. Employment requires fellowship funding of no less than $50,000 annually.

Compensation and Benefits

The role is an exempt staff attorney position with a salary aligned to years of legal experience. Attorneys under one year post-law school earn approximately $84,500 annually. Public Justice operates remotely with flexibility, but the role may involve travel due to the national scope of legal work. The organization provides a supportive culture that emphasizes work-life balance, including a four-day work week year-round.

Benefits include flexible time off, two weeks of sick leave, federal and some local holidays off, year-end office closure, employer-covered health, dental, and vision insurance for staff and eligible dependents, and a 401(k) retirement plan.