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 22903or by e-mail: abroaddus@law.virginia.edu
The application deadline is Wednesday, December 7, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m. ET. Finalist interviews will be conducted virtually.
Past Powell Fellows
- Helen Song ’23
- Meredith Kilburn ’22
- Nooreen Reza '21
- Kevin Jackson ’20
- Tex Pasley ’17
- Maya Iyyani ’18
- Shannon Ellis ’15
- Megan Lisa Watkins ’16
- Cat Martin ’15
- Mario Salas ’14
- Wyatt Rolla ’13
- Dan Hausman ’12
- Peggy Nicholson ’11
- Crystal Shin ’10 (Update)
- Phil Storey ’09
- Amy Woolard ’08
- Clermont Fraser ’07
- Tiffany Marshall ’06 (Update)
- Anishah Cumber ’05
- Angela Ciolfi ’03 (after clerking a year) (Update)
- Lise Adams ’03 (Update)
- Kit Ballenger ’02 (Update)

22nd Powell Fellow To Assist Survivors of Human Trafficking
Helen Song ’23 will assist survivors of human trafficking as the 22nd Powell Fellow in Legal Services.