The University of Georgia Law School announces the Cousins Public Interest Fellowship, which seeks to foster the creation of projects that provide civil legal services to indigent Georgians. The Fellowship offers experienced practitioners the opportunity to focus on these needs, with  support from the Fellowship and from the Law School. Fellows will also work with law students, with the expectation that students will assist with service delivery in the Fellowship project.

Applicants must identify a project and a host organization. A ‘project’ is a carefully designed initiative to meet the civil legal needs of indigent Georgians. Projects might include new initiatives, or expansion and refinement of existing initiatives. Criteria for assessing projects will include: the potential impact of project services; the likelihood of the project’s continuation after the Fellowship; the insight and creativity with which the proposal addresses the relevant need;  and the quality of preparation of the project proposal.

The ‘host organization’ is the entity from which the Fellow will provide project services. Host organizations may be either non-profit or for profit organizations. Host organizations must be willing to provide office space and office resources during the latter part of the Fellowship, and must be willing to work with the Fellow to assure long-term viability for the project.

Fellowship applicants must be experienced attorneys, with at least three years in law practice. An applicant’s prior practice need not relate to the proposed service. However, applicants must articulate how their experience will contribute to the likely success and durability of the project.

Each Fellow will work for two years. Initially, the Fellow will work at the Law School, focusing on preparation and project development. In addition, Fellows will teach and work with students in the Law School’s clinical programs. Fellows will be expected to start service delivery under the project, working out of the host organization, within a year after beginning the Fellowship.

The Fellowship program will pay salary and benefits for each Fellow, and a travel and research stipend, for each year of the two year fellowship. The Law School will provide space and office resources while the Fellow is at the Law School, and will also provide support and training, as needed, throughout the two years. The host organization will, at a minimum, provide space and office resources during the time that the Fellow provides direct client services.

One Fellow will be selected during the spring of each year, with fellowship work to start in August of that year. Selection will be made by a steering committee, which will also monitor and assess each Fellow’s work.

Applications for the 2006 - 2008 Fellowship will be due on June 15, 2006.

For further information and application materials, please contact Alexander Scherr, Associate Professor and Director of Civil Clinics, University of Georgia School of Law, scherr@uga.edu, (706) 542-6510.