Closing Date: 30th October, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The FAIR Fellowship is a unique 18-month fellowship that enables a new attorney to work full-time for two consecutive terms: 12 months at Legal Aid at Work (“LAAW”), working remotely, and six months at a plaintiff-side employment law firm affiliated with the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA).

The Foundation for Advocacy Inclusion and Resources (FAIR) was started in 2009 to promote diversity within the plaintiffs' employment bar in California and to educate the public about workplace fairness. In collaboration with CELA, FAIR provides educational and work opportunities to law students and early-career attorneys from diverse backgrounds. By supporting the next generation of employee advocates, our programs strengthen and enrich the league of lawyers who are passionate about employee justice and advancing the rights of workers.

Fellowship Details
Fair Will Fund the Fellow's Salary During the First 12 Months the Fellow Is Working at Legal Aid at Work (laaw). While at Laaw, the Fair Fellow Is Included in The Bargaining Unit Represented by Esc Local 20. During the 12-Month Term at Laaw, the Fellow May Work Remotely from Anywhere in California and May Receive a Stipend for Travel to San Francisco to Meet with Supervisors. Following Their Work at Laaw, the Fair Fellow Will Go Through a Hiring Process to Be Matched with A Cela-Affiliated Private Law Firm. the Successful Applicant Will Be Paid a Salary of At Least $8,112 per Month, Plus Benefits, by That Firm for The Remaining 6 Months of The Fellowship.

The Fellow Will Work Closely with The Supervising Attorney(s) of Laaw and The Cela-Affiliated Private Law Firm. We Are Looking for A Candidate Who Is Interested in Helping to Develop and Support Systems and Impact Litigation at Laaw, Particularly in The Areas of Racial Justice, Immigrants' Rights, And/or Wage and Hour Law, and Is Eager to Continue Their Litigation Practice at The Firm and Beyond. the Work Performed by The Fellow May Include the Following Duties:
Litigation:

Support All Aspects of State and Federal Court Litigation, Including Pre-Complaint Investigation, Complaint Drafting, Motion Practice, Discovery, Trial Preparation, Trial, Post-Trial Briefing and Appellate Work.
Participate in Negotiating and Executing Settlement of Litigation.
Communicate with And Advise Clients About Litigation Matters.
Keep Abreast of New Issues in The Field of Employment Law, Legal Ethics, and All Other Matters Necessary for The Vigorous and Competent Representation of The Client.
Maintain and Preserve Accurate, Contemporaneous Records of Time Spent on Litigation and Other Work Performed.
Additional Responsibilities at Laaw May Include:
Communicate with And Advise Clients About Pre-Litigation Matters.
Conduct Community Outreach and Education.
Participate in Community Organizations, Such as Bar Groups, Employment Rights
Organizations or Coalitions, Related to The Work of The Office.
May Represent Clients at Administrative Law Proceedings, Including at The Edd, the Dlse, the Crd, the Dol, and The Eeoc.
Support in Advocating for Laws, Regulations, and Policies at The Local, State, and National Levels to Strengthen Civil and Workplace Rights.

Requirements:

California Bar Membership. (this Requirement May Be Waived for A Reasonable Period of Time to Allow the Fellow to Take and Pass the Bar Examination. Fair Will Provide the Successful Candidate up To a $10,000 Stipend for Bar Study.)
Zero to Three Years of Legal Experience.
Excellent Writting, Research, Analytical and Verbal Communication Skills.
Strong Interpersonal Skills, Initiative, Leadership and Organizational Skills.
Demonstrated Commitment to Social Justice and Civil Rights Work and Movement Lawyering.
Deep Commitment to Racial Equity Work and Incorporating Racial Equity Principles Into Legal Advocacy.
Deep Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and The Ability to Hold and Foster Difficult and Necessary Conversations About Race, Color, Disability, National Origin, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Other Protected Categories.
Ability to Manage Multiple Projects and Cases Simultaneously; Ability to Prioritize.
Fluency in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic or Farsi Is Highly Preferred.
Willingness and Ability to Travel as Required.
At the Conclusion of The Fellowship, the Fellow Must Submit a Reflective Essay of 2-5 Pages Describing Their Experience and What They Learned.
Program Purpose
Fair, Cela and Its Participating Firms Are Committed to Building a Diverse Plaintiffs' Bar that Reflects the Workers We Represent. the Term “diversity” Includes Persons from Historically Underrepresented Groups in The Legal Profession Generally, and The Plaintiffs' Bar Specifically, Based on Categories Including: Race, National Origin, Ethnicity, Disability, Religion, Gender, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. the Foregoing Categories Are Intended to Be Illustrative, Not Exhaustive.

In Selecting Fellows, We Take a Holistic Approach, Considering Not only Background but Also how Applicants Have Demonstrated Resilience, Overcome Obstacles, and Pursued Opportunities Despite Structural, Economic, or Personal Challenges.

We Hold Ourselves to The Same Standard We Expect of Employers. Expanding Recruitment and Fostering a Plaintiffs' Bar that Reflects the Communities We Serve Strengthens Our Profession by Broadening Perspectives, Deepening Community Connections, Increasing Language Access, and Better Serving Workers and Juries Alike.

2027-2029 Fair Fellowship Application Instructions
Applicants Are Required to Submit the Following:

Fellowship Application Form (enclosed).
Resume.
Unofficial Law School Transcript.
Two Letters of Recommendation (preferably from Employers And/or Clinical Professors). Recommendation Letters Should Be Addressed to ‘fair Fellowship Selection Committee', and Emailed Directly To: Caity@fair-Foundation.Org
Two References (references Can Be the Same People Who Wrote Letters Of
Recommendation or Someone Else).
One Writing Sample (no More than Ten Pages Double-Spaced).
Personal Essay: ~500 Words Detailing Your Background, how You Became Committed to Having a Public Interest Career, and Your Interest in Employment Law. We Encourage Applicants to Share how Your Lived Experiences Have Shaped You Generally And/or Your Desire to Work in The Field of Employment Law.
All Application Materials Must Be Received by Friday, October 30, 2026.

Please Send All Application Materials to Caity@fair-Foundation.Org. Use “fair Fellowship Application” in Your Subject Line.