2008 Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Law

The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is pleased to announce the sponsorship of several Fellowships in Environmental Law for disadvantaged law students during the summer of 2008. In California, there is financial support and co-sponsorship from both the State Bar of California’s Environmental Law Section, and The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation. The ABA Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Law program is designed to encourage disadvantaged and traditionally underrepresented law students to study and pursue careers in environmental law. The program is open to first and second year law students and third year night students only.

Applications are currently being accepted for California. California fellows will be placed in positions with a particular emphasis air quality issues in the Los Angeles basin and the Central Valley.

The Fellowship:

* $5,000 summer stipend (8-10 week minimum) for work on legal matters for a government agency or public interest organization working in the fields of environmental, energy or resources law.
* Participation in meetings of the American Bar Association’s relevant committees.
* Assignment of a mentor from the American Bar Association and/or State Bar of California.

Eligibility:

* First or second year law students (and third year night students).
* Members of economically or socially disadvantaged or other underrepresented groups, including, among others, age, ability/disability, sexual orientation, cultural, linguistic, or geographic backgrounds.

Fellowship Criteria:

* Interest in environmental issues.
* Academic record (undergraduate and law school).
* Outstanding personal qualities and leadership abilities.
* A preference shall be given to placements involving air pollution in California.

Application Requirements:

* A completed application form.
* A resume.
* An undergraduate transcript.
* A law school transcript (except for first year law students).
* A two-page essay describing applicant’s interest in environmental issues and reasons for wanting to participate in the Fellowship.
* Two (2) letters of recommendation.

The Application: Please provide detailed answers to questions and required attachments specified in the application. The ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources will maintain all information received from applicants in confidence but will share the information with the cosponsoring state entity and prospective employers. The Application is available in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Selection Criteria: Fellowships in Environmental Law will be awarded primarily upon the applicant’s essay, transcript, resume and application. Members of the selection committee will personally conduct a phone interview the most competitive candidates, to determine who will ultimately be selected to participate in the Fellowship.

Instructions: Please return completed applications along with the required documents to ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, c/o Anna Demkovic, Section Assistant, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610. Applications should be either typed or handwritten in block letters. Completed applications and all related documents must be postmarked by or emailed no later than February 29, 2008. Successful applicants shall be contacted within three to four weeks of application deadlines.

Deadline: Completed applications and related documents must be postmarked by February 29, 2008.

For More Information Contact: Anna Demkovic, ABA Section Environment, Energy, and Resources, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610, (312) 988-5625, Fax: (312) 988-5572, demkovia@staff.abanet.org.