Impact Litigation Fellowship Grant

Impact Litigation Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Social Justice Legal Foundation
Amount: US $86,000 - US $96,000
Last Updated: September 02, 2025

Summary

The Impact Litigation Fellowship, established by the Social Justice Legal Foundation, provides recent law graduates with essential litigation experience over two years. Fellows engage in comprehensive civil litigation tasks, gaining hands-on skills in investigations, drafting motions, and managing client communications. This fellowship emphasizes social change through legal advocacy while offering a supportive hybrid work environment in Los Angeles. Benefits include bar exam reimbursement, relocation assistance, and extensive professional development opportunities, fostering a commitment to advancing civil rights.

Overview

Social Justice Legal Foundation Our Mission The Social Justice Legal Foundation was founded in 2021 by experienced private sector trial lawyers who saw the need to build a pipeline of tenacious public interest litigators in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the civil rights protests of the era. Collaborating with some of the nation’s top law schools, SJLF developed its dual mission: to bring innovative trial litigation that advances civil and economic rights, and to train young litigators to handle all aspects of the most complex cases – from investigation and filing through summary judgment and trial, and every discovery dispute and oral argument in between. Impact Litigation Fellowship The two-year Impact Litigation Fellowship is a cornerstone of SJLF’s work. Our fellows are recent graduates eager to build litigation skills for public good. In their first year, fellows are engaged in all aspects of pre-trial civil litigation including conducting investigations, drafting complaints, planning for and issuing discovery, drafting motions to compel and dispositive motions, second chairing depositions, and ultimately first chairing depositions. In their second year, our fellows routinely do the work of mid-level law firm associates, including managing client communications, leading meet-and-confer calls, arguing discovery motions, working with experts, and defending depositions. Fellows reach this stage through a challenging and intentional model that combines formal training, iterative review and feedback, and hands-on experience with clients, co-counsel and courts. Fellows will learn to write and think like trial lawyers by engaging in a mix of investigation, discovery, trial preparation, and trial work directed at tackling some of the biggest issues in our nation today. What Else To Know Fellowships are full-time, hybrid positions based in Los Angeles, California. Our team works from home two days per week and collaborates in our downtown Los Angeles office three days per week. SJLF also provides: A bar exam reimbursement or stipend Relocation assistance 12 days of paid time off, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, and occasional office closures as litigation schedules allow Comprehensive healthcare benefits Retirement benefits with employer contribution Paid on-site parking or commuter benefit Extensive training and professional development

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Qualifications J.D. by start dateA demonstrated commitment to using the law to work in service of others or to advance social changeExcellent research, analysis, and writing skillsGenuine belief in litigation as a valuable tool to advance rights and the lawA desire to develop litigation skills quickly, roll up their sleeves, and work hard in an engaging and collaborative environmentIf not currently licensed to practice in a state, candidate must take the California bar exam before their start date. In limited circumstances, SJLF may permit a fellow who is already admitted to an out-of-state bar to register as a legal aid attorney in California.