McCleary Law Fellows Program
As the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign is dedicated to ending discrimination, securing equal rights and protecting the health and safety of GLBT Americans. With a 120-person national staff and more than 650,000 members throughout the country, HRC lobbies the federal government on GLBT legislative and regulatory matters, advocates before the courts as an amicus curiae, participates in the judicial nominations process, leads and/or actively works on national civil rights coalitions, educates the public, participates in elections and works at the grassroots level on civil rights and political matters of national importance.
HRC Legal Department. Comprised of four attorneys, one legal assistant and up to four Law Fellows, in partnership with more than 15 outside expert attorneys, the HRC Legal Department represents the organization on cutting-edge issues before all three branches of federal government, our membership and the media.
HRC Field Department. The Field Department furthers HRC's federal and state electoral and legislative goals and serves as a resource and advocate for individuals and communities in need. Part of this mission is achieved through its State Legislative Lawyer Project. This project provides critical state legislative lawyering assistance and works to defeat legislative attempts that seek to deny equality to the GLBT community.
Description of Law Fellow Duties. HRC appoints up to four full-time (37.5 hours/week) or part-time (12 hours/week) Law Fellows for the spring and fall semesters and four full-time summer Law Fellows. Law Fellows work with HRC attorneys, outside counsel with major national law firms, lobbyists, organizational allies and congressional and White House staff members on legislative, regulatory and internal corporate matters. Practice areas include constitutional, contract, criminal, education, employment, disability, family, benefits, tax, health care, immigration, intellectual property, media, military and real estate law. Fellows undertake projects involving sophisticated legal research and writing, analysis and drafting of legislation and administrative regulations, legislative and regulatory advocacy and national coalition work.
Qualifications. Applicants should possess a strong academic record at an accredited American law school, excellent interpersonal, legal research and writing skills and an interest in civil rights, policy and/or nonprofit lawyering. 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls and LL.M. candidates are eligible. Competition for Fellowships is keen, averaging between 20 and 25 applications for each Fellowship. Past Law Fellows have hailed from law schools including American, Boston University, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Indiana, New York University, Northeastern, Stanford and Syracuse, and the universities of Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
How to Apply. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, brief legal writing sample (five pages or less), the names of two references and a law school transcript to: Cristina Finch, Senior Counsel, Human Rights Campaign; 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20036. Should you have questions about the application process, please contact Rebekah DeHaven at rebekah.dehaven@hrc.org.
Time Commitment and Stipends. Fall and Spring Law Fellows are eligible to receive a stipend depending on the weekly time commitment over a minimum 13-week term. Summer Law Fellowships are available only as full-time positions for an 11-week term with a stipend. HRC will cooperate in a Law Fellow's application for additional remuneration, including public interest grants and academic credit.
Application Deadlines. Deadlines are as follows (because HRC receives the majority of applications well in advance of these deadlines and selects Law Fellows on a rolling basis, it is wise to apply as early as possible):
- Fall Law Fellowships: First Tuesday in July
- Spring Law Fellowships: First Tuesday in November
- Summer Law Fellowships: First Tuesday in March