Powell Fellowship in Legal Services

The Powell Fellowship in Legal Services honors former Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. It awards $55,000 to a J.D. graduate of the law school or to a judicial clerk to enable him or her to work in public interest law and to enhance the delivery of legal services to the poor under the sponsorship of a public interest organization. The award is made for one year with the expectation that it will be renewed for a second year. Fellows receive the $55,000 salary plus the benefits that an employee of his or her sponsoring organization would ordinarily receive. The project must involve the provision of civil legal services to the indigent.

How to Apply

The fellowship is open to third-year law students at the School of Law and recent Virginia law graduates who will complete a judicial clerkship by fall 2023. It is awarded on the strength of the project proposal and the sponsoring organization, and the personal qualities of the applicant, including academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to public service.

To apply, send a resumé; law school transcript; two letters of recommendation from law professors or attorneys who are familiar with the applicant's work; two essays (each not longer than one page, single spaced) one describing the project and the other discussing the applicant's commitment to public service; along with a letter from the sponsoring organization indicating their willingness to serve as the host organization, to:

Andrew Broaddus
Assistant Director of Public Service
University of Virginia School of Law
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903

or by e-mail: abroaddus@law.virginia.edu

The application deadline is Wednesday, December 6, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m. ET.  Finalist interviews will be conducted virtually.