Public Interest Fellowship 2025

 
 

The Public Interest Fellowship (“Fellowship”) is a joint program of the South Asian Bar Association of North America Foundation (SABA North America Foundation) and participating SABA Chapters. SABA North America Foundation plans to fund three to six grants, each ranging from $5,000 - $10,000 for law students or recent law graduates, who will be working in public-interest jobs during summer 2025.

As you begin the application process, please carefully read the requirements and instructions below.

The requirements and instructions, and application form, may be found here: Application.

Eligibility & Fellowship Selection Criteria

Each applicant must be a current law student in good standing or a law school graduate who completed their degree no more than three (3) years prior to summer 2025, and must have received confirmation of employment or internship with a public interest organization during summer 2025 that shall last at least eight weeks. Public interest law can be practiced in various settings, including: nonprofit organizations; legal services organizations; district attorneys’/public defenders’ offices; federal, state, and local government (including executive, legislative, and judicial branches); and public service law firms.

The SABA North America Foundation will consider all the materials submitted by the applicant and its sponsoring SABA Chapter, with particular weight given to the applicant’s essay and financial need. Other factors that SABA North America Foundation may consider include:

  • Commitment to public service

  • Whether the Internship has been secured

  • Quality of application materials

  • Depth and quality of summer position

  • SABA involvement

Application Instructions

Applications are submitted to a participating SABA Chapter directly through the processes established by that respective Chapter. The SABA Chapter will then “sponsor” their selected candidate(s) by submitting their application material(s) and recommendation(s) to the SABA North America Foundation for final decision and selection by the application deadline.

Applicants must submit the following materials to the SABA Chapter:

  1. completed application form,

  2. essay responses,

  3. resume with references, and

  4. completed Employer form.

Applicants may also submit the following optional materials: letters of recommendation (limit 2), and/or evidence of financial need.

SABA Chapter’s Role in the Application Process

The Public Interest Fellowship is a joint initiative with participating SABA Chapters, which may recommend up to two (2) candidates for final consideration. Chapters play a vital role in identifying, screening, and ensuring candidates align with the Fellowship’s mission, with the option to set additional local requirements.

Deadlines & Selection

April 11, 2025: Completed Application Materials Must be Submitted to the Participating SABA Chapter

April 25, 2025: Participating Chapter Must Submit Proposed Candidate(s)/Application(s) to SABA North America Foundation for Selection

May 9, 2025, 9 PM Eastern: SABA North America Foundation Announces Fellowship Awardees

Additional Terms and Conditions

SABA North America Foundation reserves the right in its sole discretion to change the number of fellowships awarded, the dollar amount of each fellowship, or not to award any fellowships in 2025.

SABA North America Foundation retains discretion to determine the amount of the award, taking into account relevant considerations including the length and nature of the internship. In the absence of demonstrated economic hardship or other extenuating circumstances, a recipient shall receive half of a fellowship award at the commencement of an internship and the other half with one month remaining in the internship.

Upon conclusion of the internship, the recipient shall submit to the SABA North America Foundation a one-page written statement describing the services rendered by the recipient and the benefits afforded by the internship in increasing access to justice.

A fellowship recipient must immediately notify SABA North America Foundation and the sponsoring SABA Chapter in writing if the recipient (a) leaves the summer position listed in their application, (b) changes employers, (c) ceases to work for the required number of hours, or (d) becomes subject to academic discipline or ceases to be enrolled in law school. At its discretion, SABA North America Foundation shall determine whether forfeiture of the fellowship or a modification of the terms or amount of the award is appropriate. A recipient’s failure to comply with SABA North America Foundation’s policies and/or the conditions of the Fellowship may result in the forfeiture of a portion of or the entire award.

SABA North America Foundation Non-Discrimination Policy

SABA North America Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, disability, race, color, creed, caste, religion, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. All potential applicants are encouraged to apply.