Fair and Just Prosecution Summer Fellows
Fair and Just Prosecution Summer Fellows Program
An Opportunity to Shape New Thinking and Promote a New Vision for the 21st Century Prosecutor
What Is the Fair and Just Prosecution Summer Fellows Program?
Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP), a nonprofit bringing together and supporting elected reform-minded prosecutors committed to promoting a fairer and more equitable justice system, is looking for passionate students to participate in its Summer Fellows Program. The program places rising 2L and 3L FJP Summer Fellows in summer internship positions in the offices of some of the most inspiring elected prosecutors in the country.
Summer Fellows, who will be part of a diverse cohort of accomplished law students interested in criminal justice reform, will have a unique opportunity to receive hands-on experience working on criminal cases and other assignments typical of internships in prosecutor’s offices while also undertaking a policy reform project on an issue of interest to that office. Participating students, who may apply to receive a modest summer stipend, will benefit from access to the resources, network, and activities of FJP, including engagement with leading thinkers and advocates nationwide.
Participating offices may include (but are not limited to)
The following list of offices is not exhaustive, please reach out to us if you have a question regarding a jurisdiction/geographical area where you are interested in working.
• Albemarle County (VA) Commonwealth’s Attorney • Arlington County (VA) Commonwealth’s Attorney • Chittenden County (VT) State’s Attorney • Dallas (TX) District Attorney • Delaware Attorney General • Durham (NC) District Attorney • Fairfax County (VA) Commonwealth’s Attorney • Hennepin County (MN) County Attorney • King County (WA) Prosecuting Attorney • Manhattan (NY) District Attorney • Los Angeles County (CA) District Attorney • Norfolk (VA) Commonwealth’s Attorney • Philadelphia (PA) District Attorney • Pima County (AZ) County Attorney • Ramsey County (MN) County Attorney • Shelby County (TN) District Attorney • Travis County (TX) District Attorney • Washington, D.C. Attorney General • Washtenaw County (MI) Prosecuting Attorney • Western Judicial Circuit (GA) District Attorney
An Opportune Moment
Great strides have been made over the past few years in promoting criminal justice reforms that recognize that prior “tough on crime” and incarceration-driven practices don’t always produce safer or healthier communities. New thinking has started to permeate the justice system and has prompted proactive and prevention-oriented strategies. Against that backdrop, a new generation of reform-minded state and local elected prosecutors committed to changing their office culture and promoting a less punitive approach to addressing crime has come into office. Elected DAs in geographic areas ranging from Seattle, Manhattan, and Philadelphia, to smaller rural communities, are pushing back against the “law and order/tough on crime” rhetoric of past decades and elevating a national conversation around the importance of a fair, equitable, and right-sized justice system. FJP brings together these reform-minded and innovative elected prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.
The Benefits of the FJP Summer Fellows Program
The FJP Summer Fellows Program aims to redefine what it means to be a prosecutor. The Program is designed for students interested in exploring careers in criminal justice reform who have a passion for justice and fairness; who can bring to a prosecutor’s office greater diversity of thought, background, and experience; who recognize the central role that the prosecutor has in shaping our criminal justice priorities; and who are interested in influencing this new thinking. Participating students will work in offices led by reform-minded prosecutors, where there exist opportunities to affect long-term change. Summer Fellows may also apply to receive a modest need-based stipend.
What Will an FJP Summer Fellow Do?
FJP Summer Fellows will participate in a variety of activities during their placements, including assisting with intake and trial preparation, sitting in on witness interviews, assisting with discovery and filings, conducting legal research and writing, and conferencing with supervisors on cases, depending on the needs of the office. Eligible students in certain offices may argue motions in court and handle evidentiary hearings. Summer Fellows will regularly engage with one another and with elected leaders in the FJP network to discuss critical issues in criminal justice reform and will also undertake a policy reform project during their summers (which they may continue into the fall term, possibly for credit on an independent-study basis and with FJP’s guidance).
Potential areas of focus for policy reform projects include but are not limited to: • The importance of conviction integrity and sentencing review, transparency, and accountability; • Fortifying public trust and enhancing community outreach and engagement; • Applying a harm reduction lens to drug policy; • Addressing police misconduct and racial injustice; • Investing in reentry approaches and ameliorating the collateral consequences of convictions; • Developing data-driven practices and changing how success is measured in prosecutors’ offices; and • Rethinking application of the death penalty and juvenile life without parole sentencing.
District Attorney / Public Defender or Advocacy Organization Summer Split
FJP is pleased to continue and grow an additional component of the Summer Fellows Program: the District Attorney/ Public Defender Summer Split. A select group of highly committed Fellows will have the opportunity to split their summers between a DA’s and PD’s office, gaining invaluable experience working with advocates on both sides of the system and identifying areas where these offices can come together to better serve those who come into contact with the criminal legal system. Students may also split their summer with an advocacy organization. Participating Fellows will develop a policy reform project on a topic of importance to both offices in which they work. Students interested in either of these options are encouraged to begin to apply to PD offices and/or advocacy organizations in parallel with the FJP process.
How Do I Apply?
To apply submit a resume; a cover letter describing your interest in criminal justice reform, how you learned about the program, any geographic or office preferences, and whether you are interested in the FJP District Attorney/Public Defender or Advocacy Organization split opportunity; a law school transcript (1Ls without fall grades may instead submit an undergraduate transcript); and a brief (5 to 10 page) writing sample to:
Please inform us of any time exigencies when/if they arise. Applications from 2Ls will be considered on a rolling basis, with interested students ideally applying by December 13, 2024. 2Ls who can commit a minimum of ten weeks to the Summer Fellows Program may be permitted to split their summers. Applications from 1Ls will not be reviewed until after December 2, 2024, and interested students should ideally apply by January 17, 2025.
FJP strongly values diversity, and students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, especially those with direct experience with the criminal legal system.
For more information on FJP, visit http://www.fairandjustprosecution.org or contact SummerFellows@fairandjustprosecution.org.
