USA Scholarships
NAACP Law Fellows Program 2027 - Summer Stipend
The NAACP Law Fellows Program 2027 is a paid summer fellowship in the NAACP Office of the General Counsel in Baltimore, Maryland. Fellows work 37.5 hours per week from early June through early August on civil rights cases, internal legal matters, and planning for the NAACP Legal Advocacy Institute during the national convention. Recent cycles awarded a $10,000 stipend paid biweekly and taxed like wages. You need at least one completed year of law school, strong academic credentials, and a demonstrated commitment to the NAACP mission and public interest law. Send resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample, and two letters of recommendation to [email protected]. CareerOneStop lists February 28 as the recurring deadline, though NAACP job postings have sometimes closed in mid-March.
What is the NAACP Law Fellows Program?
The NAACP Law Fellows Program puts you inside the Office of the General Counsel during the summer when civil rights organizations need extra legal capacity most. You are not shadowing from a distance. Fellows take real assignments under staff attorneys, help shape the Legal Advocacy Institute at the national convention, and often lead an advocacy project that outlasts your ten-week stint.
Pay matters for public interest summers. NAACP summer 2024 postings promised a $10,000 stipend paid like wages, which beats unpaid internships but still leaves you responsible for Baltimore housing. CareerOneStop keeps February 28 on the calendar, yet law school career offices sometimes share March deadlines, so treat the posted date as gospel once the 2027 announcement drops.
Your application packet is straightforward: resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample, and two recommendations emailed to [email protected]. The bar is mission fit plus solid grades. If your resume already shows clinic work, voting rights research, or housing justice internships, say plainly how that work connects to NAACP priorities rather than repeating your resume line by line.
If you are comparing pathways, the summer Law Fellows Program is different from NAACP's year-long Civil Rights Litigation Fellowship for funded recent graduates. This guide covers the student summer track. Pair it with our law school scholarship guides if you also need tuition support for the academic year ahead.
Eligibility
-
✓At least one year of law school completedYou must have finished at least one full year of an accredited JD program before the fellowship starts. Rising 2Ls and 3Ls are the typical cohort; 1Ls who have not completed a full year are not eligible.
-
✓Interest in civil rights and public interest lawNAACP selects students with a clear commitment to civil rights advocacy, public interest practice, and the association's mission. Your cover letter and writing sample should show that focus, not generic corporate law goals.
-
✓Strong academic recordCareerOneStop and NAACP postings require strong academic credentials. Submit an official or unofficial law school transcript with your application packet.
-
✓Availability for full-time summer workFellows work 37.5 hours per week for the fellowship period, usually from June 1 through early August. You must be able to work on site at NAACP headquarters in Baltimore unless a posting states otherwise.
-
✓Convention attendance when requiredRecent program descriptions require attendance at the NAACP National Convention and the Legal Advocacy Institute in July. Treat convention travel as mandatory if your offer letter says so.
-
✓Complete application materialsEmail resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample, and two letters of recommendation to [email protected]. Some cycles request references only after initial selection.
Benefits
- Stipend $10,000 in recent cycles (paid biweekly)
- Civil rights casework Supervised work with NAACP attorneys
- Legal Advocacy Institute Help plan CLE at national convention
- Advocacy project leadership Lead a summer advocacy project
- Schedule Full-time June through early August
- Tuition remission Not included (summer stipend only)
- Housing in Baltimore Not provided; stipend offsets costs
Document checklist
-
✓Resume tailored to public interest lawOne to two pages highlighting law school activities, civil rights internships, clinics, and community advocacy. Put contact information and graduation year at the top.
-
✓Cover letterAddress why you want NAACP general counsel work, which civil rights issues matter to you, and how the fellowship fits your public interest career path.
-
✓Law school transcriptInclude grades through your most recent completed semester. Unofficial transcripts are usually accepted at application; confirm if an official copy is needed after selection.
-
✓Writing sampleA legal memorandum, brief section, or academic paper showing analytical writing. Stay within any page limit stated in the live posting.
-
✓Two letters of recommendationCareerOneStop lists two letters. Use professors, clinical supervisors, or public interest employers who can speak to your civil rights commitment and work ethic.
-
✓Email submission to [email protected]Send materials to the Office of General Counsel inbox named on CareerOneStop and NAACP law school announcements. Use a clear subject line such as Law Fellow Program Application.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the NAACP Law Fellows Program?
It is a paid summer fellowship in the NAACP Office of the General Counsel where law students work on civil rights matters, assist attorneys, and help plan the Legal Advocacy Institute at the national convention. Recent cycles paid a $10,000 stipend for full-time work in Baltimore.
Who is eligible for NAACP Law Fellows?
You must have completed at least one year of law school, demonstrate commitment to civil rights and public interest law, and meet NAACP academic standards. The program targets students who align with the association's mission.
How much does the NAACP Law Fellows Program pay?
NAACP summer 2024 postings listed a $10,000 stipend paid biweekly through payroll, subject to taxes. Older announcements cited $6,000. Treat the live job posting as authoritative for your cycle.
When is the NAACP Law Fellows application deadline?
CareerOneStop lists February 28 annually. NAACP has also closed applications in mid-March in recent years and reviewed files on a rolling basis. Apply early once the fellowship is posted.
Where do NAACP Law Fellows work?
Fellows work at NAACP headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, full time during the summer. Convention attendance in July is mandatory in recent program descriptions.
How do I apply for NAACP Law Fellows?
Email resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample, and two recommendation letters to [email protected] unless the current posting directs you to an online portal.
Is the NAACP Law Fellows Program the same as the Civil Rights Litigation Fellowship?
No. NAACP also advertises a separate year-long Civil Rights Litigation Fellowship for recent graduates who bring external funding. The summer Law Fellows Program is a student internship-style fellowship during law school.
Can 1Ls apply for NAACP Law Fellows?
Only after you complete one full year of law school. Rising 2Ls and 3Ls are the usual applicants for the summer that follows.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website