[Berkeley, CA] — The John Paul Stevens Foundation (“Stevens Foundation”) today announced its 2026 class of Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellows, a record cohort of 158 law students poised to address the nation’s most pressing civil legal challenges.
Amid a national “justice gap,” where nearly 90% of low-income Americans face civil legal problems without adequate counsel, the Stevens Foundation is providing the structural solution. By eliminating the financial barriers that prevent talented law students from pursuing unpaid public interest roles, the Foundation is ensuring that the next generation of legal guardians is as diverse and dedicated as the communities they serve.
The 2026 Fellows represent the communities they are serving, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion that mirrors the changing face of the legal profession:
- 53% identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
- 66% identify as female
- 25% identify as LGBTQIA+
- 34% are first-generation college graduates
- 57% are first-generation graduate or professional students
“These Fellows are not just interning; they are answering a call to action,” said Sara Woods, Executive Director of the John Paul Stevens Foundation. “By funding these essential placements, we are ensuring that economic circumstances do not dictate who enters the legal profession or who has access to justice.”
Impact at Scale
The 2026 class is deployed at 139 host organizations across 28 states and the District of Columbia. Throughout this summer, these Fellows will contribute over 50,000 hours of legal advocacy, focusing on high-stakes fields such as criminal justice reform, civil rights, housing instability, immigration, and environmental protection.
This program has become a strong pipeline for the legal industry: 73% of Stevens Fellows go on to careers as leaders in public interest law—a rate far exceeding national averages.
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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 California, 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 Pritzker School of Law, Justice Stevens’ 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 nearly 30 years, the Stevens Fellowship has supported over 1,400 law students, of whom 73% have gone on to work in the public interest after graduating from law school.
Media Contact:
Sara Woods, Executive Director
sara@jpstevensfoundation.org