Since 1997, the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship has been an engine of transformation in the realm of public interest law. The Stevens Fellowship has ignited the careers of passionate public interest attorneys and fueled their focused pursuit of justice, all while paying homage to the indomitable spirit of Justice John Paul Stevens.
The Stevens Foundation is grateful to the following for the use of the portrait, photographs, and courtroom sketches in this video
- Art Lien
- Janet Fries
- The Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States including James J. Ingwersen and Steve Petteway
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2026 Impact Report
What happens when you invest in future public interest lawyers? You help shape the advocates, leaders, and changemakers our justice system depends on. For nearly 30 years, the John Paul Stevens Foundation has done exactly that—growing from just three fellowships into the nation’s largest public interest summer fellowship program, empowering more than 150 Fellows each year to deliver over 50,000 hours of critical legal advocacy.
Behind these numbers are real stories of impact—and real momentum. With a community of more than 1,200 alumni and a strategic expansion into law schools with the greatest need, the Foundation is reaching aspiring lawyers who might otherwise be unable to pursue public service. Transformational investments have accelerated this work, opening doors for the next generation to step forward and serve.
Now, we are at a pivotal moment. The demand for public interest lawyers has never been greater—and neither has the opportunity to make a lasting difference. Your support helps ensure that talented, passionate law students can answer that call. We invite you to explore this report, see the impact for yourself, and join us in building a more just and equitable future.
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Issue 4: March 2026 Newsletter
News & Spotlights to connect, inform, and celebrate our talented community of John Paul Stevens Foundation’s Clerk Community & Fellowship Alumni.
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In 2025, with the support of Justice Stevens’ former law clerks and other generous donors, the John Paul Stevens Foundation supported 158 Stevens Fellows selected by 38 law schools and 3 nonprofits working on substantive issues that were of great importance to Justice Stevens.
During their summers, the 2025 Stevens Fellows worked at more than 135 different public interest agencies in 25 different states and Washington D.C., collectively doing over 50,000 hours of public interest legal work.
Last year, the Foundation celebrated the selection of the 1,000th Stevens Fellow, a milestone moment in the program’s nearly 30-year history. There are now over 1,250 Alumni of the Stevens Fellowship, and 73% of the Fellows who have graduated from law school are working in public interest careers.