First Amendment Fellowship

Allows recent law school graduates, judicial clerks, and mid-career attorneys the chance to gain practical experience litigating constitutional challenges to restrictions on Americans' First Amendment rights.

Geographic Scope: United States; Position based in Washington, D.C. office (other arrangements may be available for especially outstanding candidates)

Focus Areas:

• First Amendment rights
• Free speech protection
• Freedom to publish
• Freedom to assemble
• Right to petition
• Constitutional litigation
• Campaign finance and election law

Eligibility:

• Recent law school graduates
• Judicial clerks
• Mid-career attorneys

Program Details:

• One-year fellowships, typically beginning each August or September
• Work alongside Institute's attorneys on all aspects of trial and appellate practice
• Cases challenging restrictions on Americans' rights to freely speak, publish, assemble, and petition
• Excellent preparation for judicial clerkship, career change, public interest litigation career, academia, or private practice
• Can lead to permanent position at the Institute for Free Speech
• Full-time work expected in Washington, D.C. office

Benefits Package:

• Excellent health insurance plan
• Dental insurance
• Vision care
• Health savings account
• 16 days of paid office holidays
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Long-term disability insurance
• Commuting benefits (for D.C. office workers)
• 401(k) with low-cost funds and employer match

Contact Information:

• Email: info@ifs.org
• Address: 1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20036
• Phone: 202-301-3300

Application Process

Deadline: Rolling basis for 2025-26 term and beyond (no specific deadline given)

Required Materials: Submit one combined PDF file to info@ifs.org containing:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Law school transcript
4. Contact information for three professional and/or character references
5. Writing sample

Submission Format: Single PDF document sent to info@ifs.org

Review Timeline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis