2026-2027 Legal Fellowship Sponsorship Proposal Invitation

Description

The Children’s Law Center (“CLC”) is seeking rising third year law students, judicial clerks, and other recent law graduates to sponsor for externally-funded public interest fellowships, such as Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, and other fellowship programs, including fellowships sponsored by individual law schools.  

We are seeking applicants interested in developing fellowship projects related to CLC’s representation of children in the New York City Family Courts. Specifically, the Fellow would represent clients under the age of 21 in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and/or Staten Island at all legal proceedings related to that child, including trials. The Fellow would conduct a full factual investigation, including interviewing the child, caretakers, and other witnesses and undertake legal research and writing (including drafting memoranda of law, motions, and/or appellate briefs). The Fellow would also make policy recommendations and participate in CLC’s efforts to shape policies that support our clients and their families.  

About CLC

The Children’s Law Center is a non-profit legal services organization that represents children in custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, family offense, and related child protective (abuse or neglect) proceedings in the Family Courts and the Integrated Domestic Violence Parts of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and in appeals therefrom.   

Proposed Fellowship Projects

The Children’s Law Center is interested in considering fellowship topics in the area of child advocacy including, but not limited to, the below areas: 

• Representing LGBTQ+ youth whose family placements have been disrupted; 

• Representing young people struggling with mental health challenges; 

• Representing children who have experienced domestic violence/sexual abuse in the home; 

• Representing children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) classification in Family Court;  

• Representing children and teens in proceedings related to their education, such as suspension hearings and impartial due process hearings for students with IEPs, 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

● Effectively represent children as subjects or parties in assigned cases and serve as a strong advocate for them in a manner consistent with the law and rules governing the conduct of attorneys in general and attorneys for children in particular. 

● Work both independently and cooperatively with other staff as a team. 

● Maintain calendar and files in compliance with the office’s best practices expectations. 

● Perform such other appropriate responsibilities as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLICANT

● J.D. or expected J.D. by the Fall of 2027; 

● Demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest law and serving children from diverse backgrounds, including from low-income communities; 

● Strong legal practice and communication skills, commitment to ethical and professional rules of conduct, and familiarity with dispute resolution techniques; 

● Time management skills to ensure quality while serving a diverse and demanding caseload by working efficiently and meeting deadlines; and 

● Respect for, and an ability to work with, diverse populations. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please provide the following documents by email to Liberty Aldrich ( View email address on childrenslawcenter.applytojob.com ) with the subject line “CLC Fellowship,” 

• A Statement of Interest, addressing your interest in CLC, your experiences in public interest law, and an area of potential focus for your fellowship, including ideas for specific projects; 

• Resume; and 

• A writing sample (no longer than 10 pages). The applicant should be the primary author, and the work should not have been significantly edited by someone other than the applicant. 

Applications are due by  July 19, 2026 , but will be accepted on a rolling basis.  

*Please note that this fellowship is not being offered independently by CLC. This position is contingent upon the securing of sponsorship through an external fellowship.