Berkeley, CA, April 20, 2026

For nearly three decades, the John Paul Stevens Foundation has invested in the next generation of public interest lawyers—expanding access to justice by supporting law students committed to serving their communities. Today, the Foundation released its latest Impact Report, highlighting a year of continued growth, national reach, and deepened impact.

“This is a pivotal moment for the Foundation,” said Sara L. Woods, Executive Director. “The need for dedicated public interest lawyers has never been greater. Through the Stevens Fellowship, we are not only supporting students—we are strengthening communities and advancing access to justice nationwide.”

What began with just three fellowships in 1997 has grown into the largest public interest summer fellowship program in the country, now supporting more than 150 Fellows annually. Together, they contribute over 50,000 hours of critical legal advocacy each year—serving individuals and communities who might otherwise go without representation.

For many Fellows, the experience is transformative.

“The Stevens Fellowship was the essential bridge to that career,” said Juan Gonzalez, a first-generation attorney committed to public service.

“Having a law degree gives you a certain power and a responsibility to use it for good,” added Fellow Mirna Torres.

That impact extends far beyond the summer. With a network of more than 1,200 alumni and expanded partnerships with law schools across the country—including historically Black colleges and universities and institutions in underserved regions—the Foundation is building a more inclusive and effective pipeline into public interest law.

Read the full Impact Report: LINK

 

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 Berkeley, 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 Pritzker 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 29 years, the Stevens Fellowship has supported over 1,250 law students, of whom 74% have gone on to work in the public interest after graduating from law school. In summer 2025, the Stevens Fellowship supported a cohort of 158 Fellows who collectively contributed over 50,000 hours of public interest legal work at more than 135 different public interest agencies in 25 states and Washington D.C. 

Media Contact:
Sara L. Woods, Executive Director
sara@jpstevensfoundation.org