What is a Legal Fellow?
A legal fellow is typically a recent graduate of a law school, who has undertaken advanced study, or has worked in a legal position, with the ultimate goal being to become a lawyer. This definition does not fit all legal fellows all of the time.
From a functional perspective, a legal fellow is often a highly qualified and experienced individual, who is appointed for a fixed term, often as a cost effective way to meet needs for unfamiliar areas of law , in lieu of hiring a more expensive resource with comparable skills or experience. Fellows carrying this function bring skills or experience to an organization that is of short term need with the objective of adding value to the granting institution by: 1. taking on the substantive legal work of the granting institution and/or 2. providing guidance to lawyers of the granting institution who have relatively less experience in the given area of law.
Fellows are often used as a "stepping stone" to help aspiring lawyers eventually secure full time positions. The aspiration of becoming a lawyer often is what underscores the decision of a granting institution to hire a fellow.
Fellows often are lawyers-in-residence of law firms, legal aid organizations, non-profit organizations, universities/campuses, or other granting institutions.
Becoming a Legal Fellow
To become a legal fellow, you ordinarily need a J.D. from an accredited law school. You must be in a position to sit for the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in the state in which you plan to work as a legal fellow. Experience and skills to note on your résumé include familiarity with legal research, online legal research systems, such as Lexis and Westlaw, and different types of legal documents.
Legal fellows often have experience teaching or have worked in non-profit legal settings. If you are interested in a non-clinical fellowship, legal fellowship organizations often match fellows with judicial chambers, attorneys at large firms, legal aid societies and other legal non-profits. If you are interested in a clinical fellowship, it is a good idea to get involved as a law student or attorney in local clinics, legal aid or non-profit groups.
Advantages of a Legal Fellowship
The legal fellowship is a pivotal step for many emerging professionals in the legal industry. By offering an opportunity for specialized, practical experience, legal fellowships can help launch a successful career in law.
For instance, assuming a role as part of a legal research team provides several clear advantages: Fellowships also provide a rich opportunity to build a professional network — particularly important with the high level of employee turnover that characterizes the legal profession. Entry-level and highly skilled legal fellows are highly employable. The demand for the right candidates is significant; the value that a well-placed candidate can deliver to his or her fellows after one or two short years can mean the difference between success and failure for a firm of any size and structure.
Legal Fellowships in Various Industries
In law firms, fellows are typically hired for a short-term period for projects like government investigations, large transactional pains, or appeals. Although law firm fellows don’t need to bring in any business, they are responsible for confirming the timely, accurate completion of their work and that of any team members, if applicable. Fellows report to associates and partners as required.
Legal fellowships are also found throughout government organizations, both at the federal and state level. Of all types of legal fellowships, those at governmental organizations are among the most likely to turn into full-time positions. That said , it’s also common for governmental affiliates to offer short-term fellowships of one or two years.
Fellowships at non-profit organizations are similar to those found at law firms; however, they might not have set time limits. Like legal fellows at law firms, non-profit legal fellows are expected to devote at least 40 hours per week for the duration of their fellowships. Again, this might be subject to change in some situations.
Although some academic institutions hire law fellows who are tasked with analyzing Supreme Court decisions, developing case law, or handling research projects, these opportunities are more likely to be offered to experienced legal professionals.
Anticipations and Challenges
Working as a legal fellow can present several challenges that differ from those faced by more experienced attorneys. The imbalance between high workloads and low pay can contribute to mental health issues, while inexperienced practitioners may face complex and emotionally charged legal matters. Legal fellows providing advice and advocacy on contentious issues may have to develop and practice their negotiation and communication skills as they work with peers, clients and stakeholders or even in the court room.
In addition to often challenging environments, legal fellows may have to face the fact that they are both deeply involved in their organization’s projects as well as on the front lines of advancing their legal education. Fellowships are a chance to tackle substantive legal work in a specific area of law, while having support, resources and supervision. However, some legal fellows report that they receive little feedback or support – the level of mentorship varies widely. Another common complaint is that work is underappreciated or undervalued, in part because fellows are not involved in the overall mission of their sponsoring organizations. Inadequate support "leaves fellows feeling like they’re slogs through a legal system" (ABA). These are all the more acute for "international" fellows, who may be working thousands of miles from home without connections to the local community and support systems.
On the other hand, sponsoring organizations or institutions may have unfulfilled expectations when it comes to legal fellows’ performance, outcomes or contributions. Fellows often leave projects unfinished or have to make recommendations without the weight of institutional reliability. Moreover, fellows have temporary contracts that may last less than the year of becoming fully integrated into their office. Competing demands can mean legal fellows devote less effort than hoped for to a particular issue or matter, which may be especially concerning if the issue is the professional focus or main area of interest for the sponsoring organization or institution.
Advancement Following a Fellowship
Upon completion of the legal fellowship, there has been a diverse range of career paths pursued by former fellows and the possibilities are endless. A fellow may transition into a full-time role at the same organization, branch out to a new opportunity at a different organization or advance their education by obtaining an advanced legal degree in order to pursue their passion for a certain area of law, such as environmental or health law. A fellow junior associate who has gained regulatory experience in investment management may become interested in capital markets and pursue a senior position in the investment management group at the same or another firm . An associate with experience in a number of corporate areas, including intellectual property and employment, may decide to further pursue specific areas of interest such as licensing and talent acquisition, bringing key transferable skills and knowledge of multiple practices to the firm. Post-fellowship, Fellows are able to bring their experience and gain even more exposure to help support their practice areas. For example, an energy and infrastructure associate with fellowship experience in clean technology may advise clients on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Fellowships allow associates to gain expertise and first-hand experience in a greater variety of roles and settings, even within the same law firm, placing them in a better position to contribute to their current practice group and to explore other career opportunities with their current organization or elsewhere.