It’s always heartwarming when somebody is willing to throw a bone to such hard-pressed law schools, and though public interest fellowships usually pay a bare minimum, the Ford fellows will receive a much needed $15,000. They will be working with the Brooking Institute, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Said Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow, “At a time when fellowships and other resources for supporting public interest legal work are under greater pressure than ever, the Ford Foundation has stepped in and provided this superb support for law students here and elsewhere, just as importantly to the people they will serve through these fellowships. We are immensely grateful for this new support, and we look forward to terrific accomplishments, service and collaboration with our grantee partners.”
The 1L and 2L students will be among the top performing at their schools, and will be set into intimate interaction with lawyers and advocates.
“This program opens up a new pathway for law students to gain practical and transformative experience working on many of the defining social justice issues of our age,” said the president of the Ford Foundation, Luis Ubiñas. “We believe it will offer them invaluable knowledge and understanding that will inform their careers whether public or private, while bringing fresh talent to organizations working to advance fairness and freedom.”
The Ford Foundation has committed to up to $1.75 million for the first year. They are a nonprofit grant-making organization seeking to spread democratic values, fight poverty, and promote international relationships.