For immediate release
This summer, the John Paul Stevens Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspiring milestone of supporting over 1,000 Fellows through the Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship Program.
For more than a quarter of a century, the John Paul Stevens Foundation has been dedicated to creating a future where the pursuit of justice and civil rights is embedded in every aspect of law. Today, the Foundation embodies this vision by administering one of the largest public interest summer fellowship programs in the United States and abroad. The Fellowship Program invests in the next generation of public interest lawyers by providing financial support and professional development programming for students working in unpaid public interest summer internships through participating law schools and nonprofit organisations. With over 150 Fellows accomplishing more than 50,000 hours of crucial advocacy work each year, we are an essential engine of transformation in the realm of public interest law.
The Fellowships, named in honor of Justice John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, are designed to continue the intergenerational impact that Justice Stevens had on his law clerks, all of whom were at the start of their legal careers – just like the Stevens Fellows who are selected each year. The Fellowships are closely aligned with the Justice’s own professional experience in public service and pro bono work and reflect his profound belief that a dynamic and effective justice system depends on a cadre of talented lawyers committed to the public interest.
With almost three quarters of Stevens Fellows going on to work in public interest legal positions, the impact of the Fellowship Program reverberates far beyond the summer period. By tackling pressing issues such as voting rights, gun control, criminal justice reform, access to legal services, women’s access to health care and environmental justice, Stevens Fellows continue to change the world in a positive way long after their internships are complete.
The John Paul Stevens Foundation is proud to celebrate the positive impact of over a 1,000 Fellows. As we look to the future, we are energized to recruit and support the next 1,000 fellows who will continue to honor the Justice’s legacy of supporting democracy, access to justice and equality.
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About the John Paul Stevens Foundation – Advancing a Legacy of Justice
The John Paul Stevens Foundation seeks to build a more just and equitable society. As a living tribute to United States Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, the Foundation works to protect and promote democracy and the rule of law, access to justice, and equality by supporting law students, lawyers, and others working in the public interest. The Foundation was established in 2010 in honor of Justice Stevens’ retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court by a group of his former law clerks. An independent nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, the Foundation provides a formal home for the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship Program.
About the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship
The Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship was created in 1997 at Northwestern University School of Law, Justice Stevens’s alma mater, to support law students who spend the summer working in otherwise unpaid public interest law internships. The Fellowship Program reflects Justice Stevens’ deep belief that a dynamic and effective justice system depends on a cadre of trained and committed lawyers committed to public interest work. Over the past 27 years, the Stevens Fellowship has supported over 944 law students, of whom 74% have gone on to work in the public interest after graduating from law school. In summer 2024, the Stevens Fellowship will support a cohort of approximately 150 Fellows working in a wide range of public interest placements, serving a variety of communities.
Media Contact:
Jenny Chung Mejia, Interim Executive Director
jenny@jpstevensfoundation.org