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I am a few months from finishing a year long trial level state clerkship and have no promising job prospects at this point. I have applied widely and consistently over the past year, everything from fellowships to firms to nonprofits, etc. I have had a few interviews, but nothing has panned out.

At this point I am considering applying for a part time fellowship position with my state's chapter of the ACLU. It would only be a 15-20 hour a week commitment, and the location is something that would work for me. I am hesitant about this not because the work doesn't interest me (it does - I love civil liberties stuff, and am particularly interested in education and student rights), but because it is volunteer. I have a freelance legal research position that is paid that I could make some money from, but I'm not sure it's enough to live on. The position advertisement says that the ACLU chapter is willing to work with fellowship organizations who would provide funding, so my question is, where do I find potential sources of funding? If it matters, I graduated from a regional T2 at the top of my class, have nonprofit work experience both summers, law review, and have clerked for a year. Thanks!

Check the stickied thread.

In general though it will be hard to find funding for PT work. You can ask the ACLU if they have a list of donors who have funded past PT fellows. I can't think of anything other than maybe a private local foundation that would do it though.

worldtraveler wrote:Check the stickied thread.

In general though it will be hard to find funding for PT work. You can ask the ACLU if they have a list of donors who have funded past PT fellows. I can't think of anything other than maybe a private local foundation that would do it though.

OP here

Thank you. Do you know if there is any precedent for writing to firms or companies or anything else like that to ask for funding or sponsorship or something?

Anonymous User wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:Check the stickied thread.

In general though it will be hard to find funding for PT work. You can ask the ACLU if they have a list of donors who have funded past PT fellows. I can't think of anything other than maybe a private local foundation that would do it though.

OP here

Thank you. Do you know if there is any precedent for writing to firms or companies or anything else like that to ask for funding or sponsorship or something?

Most firms would fund someone through an established fellowship program.

You would be better off reaching out to a local charitable foundation. Rotary or Lions might have something.