Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) is now accepting applications for two-year Skadden and Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellowships and for our one-to-two-year in-house Ruth Chance Law Fellowship for the period beginning in the fall of 2014.

Each of these fellowships offer recent law school graduates the opportunity to obtain training and experience in litigation and other aspects of public interest practice.  Skadden and EJW Fellows design unique projects that address a range of legal issues, including the economic rights and working conditions of low-wage workers, immigrants’ rights and access to justice, civil rights, and equity and access in education.  ERA’s Ruth Chance Law Fellow assists ERA staff attorneys with ongoing litigation, direct legal services, and policy advocacy efforts.

ERA was founded in 1974 as a public interest law firm dedicated to ending discrimination against women and girls.  ERA’s mission is to protect and secure equal rights and economic opportunities for women and girls through litigation, advocacy and direct services.

ERA has been a pioneer in advancing gender equity in work and schools for women and girls across the country since its founding.  Through our campaign approach—which incorporates public education, legislative advocacy, and litigation—ERA seeks to assist women and girls throughout a life-long continuum: from ensuring access and equity in educational institutions, to combating sex discrimination in employment, to advocating for policies that make the workplace more hospitable to working families.  From assisting in the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act to arguing seminal gender rights cases before the United States Supreme Court, ERA is known for being the home of visionary leaders, unflinching advocates, and hard-nosed litigators for justice.  Interested individuals can find more information about ERA’s programs and projects by visiting ERA’s website.

ERA seeks to sponsor a Skadden and/or EJW candidate to develop a project in one of ERA’s issue priority areas: (1) ending sexual harassment and wage theft against low-wage and immigrant women workers; (2) expanding and ensuring equal opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated industries; (3) promoting policies that advance equal pay and decrease the gender wage gap; (4) combating pregnancy and familial status discrimination in the workplace; and (5) fostering equity in education through full implementation and enforcement of Title IX.  Individuals interested in becoming fellowship candidates are encouraged to visit our website at www.equalrights.org/our-work/ to learn more about ERA’s campaigns.

Applicants for the two-year Skadden Fellowship and EJW Fellowship should consult those programs for more details about selection process and requirements.

Those applying for Skadden and/or EJW Fellowships who would also like to be considered for the Ruth Chance Law Fellowship should indicate their interest on the Project Area Interest Form.

Criteria for sponsorship for a Skadden or EJW Fellowship include:

•  Juris Doctor from a U.S. law school awarded in 2013 or 2014.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to women’s rights and legal issues affecting women, people of color, and other populations that are deprived of civil and/or human rights.
• Dedicated team player with a commitment to collaboration and the highest level of client service.
• Strong academic performance; excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Ability to problem-solve, exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and work independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills; Spanish fluency strongly preferred.
• Admission to California Bar or plans to sit for July 2014 bar exam.

ERA will accept applications for Skadden/EJW Fellowship proposals through July 10, 2013.

All individuals who wish to be considered for a 2014-2016 Skadden or Equal Justice Works Fellowship must complete the project area interest form and submit the following materials by July 10, 2013:

i.            Cover letter;

ii.            Resume;

iii.            Law school transcript;

iv.            Brief legal writing sample of 5-10 pages; and

v.            Completed project area interest form.

Cover letters should not exceed 2 pages and must describe the applicant’s interest in ERA as an organization, his/her relevant skills and experience, and the Fellowship(s) for which s/he would like to be considered.

Candidates interested only in the Ruth Chance Law Fellowship should submit the same materials as described above by no later than October 28, 2013.

Please send completed initial applications to: jreisch@equalrights.org with the subject line “Completed Initial Fellowship Application 2014.”  E-mail is preferred, but paper applications can also be mailed to: Equal Rights Advocates, Attn: Jennifer Reisch, 180 Howard Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94105.  Please note: Applications submitted by regular mail must be received by the July 10, 2013 deadline.

Equal Rights Advocates is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy), gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition including genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including transgender status), weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency, where not substantially job-related), citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law. ERA also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that an individual has any of the characteristics of the protected classes of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation, and further prohibits discrimination against an individual who is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics. ERA will also make reasonable accommodation for disabled applicants and employees, unless such accommodation would result in undue hardship.

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