Specifications and Responsibilities

Specifications

The Richey Fellows Program seeks applicants who are both well-established in their fields and are able to relate to law students seeking information about career choices. Richey fellows should have between 10-15 years of post-law school legal experience serving in government or non-profits.

The program seeks lawyers from a broad range of public interest and public sector practice areas who can provide diverse perspectives and experiences for the benefit of GW Law students. We are looking for fellows from non-profit organizations and government agencies at all levels and across a breadth of practice areas.  Qualified fellows include practitioners of direct legal services (criminal and civil), law reform litigation, transactional or legal social entrepreneurship, and non-profit or governmental regulatory and policy work.

We also are seeking applicants from different geographic locations, educational backgrounds, and employer types. Applicants from diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to practitioners in the following areas: civil rights law, criminal law, labor and employment law, health law, environmental law, and housing law. Ideal candidates possess effective communication skills and an enthusiasm for their work that will excite students and encourage them to enter public interest law.

All fellows must commit to three consecutive days on campus during the academic year, to be arranged at the mutual convenience of the law school and the fellow once selected.

Fellows will receive a $1,500 stipend plus reimbursement for travel, meals, and covered expenses.

Responsibilities

One-on-One Student Meetings

Student meetings and advising sessions are the core of the Richey Fellowship experience.  Fellows will be expected to devote 2-4 hours during each day of their on-campus visit to meetings with individual students in 30-minute sessions. In these sessions, fellows should share information about their career path and aspects of their daily work, with significant time devoted to discussing student career goals and interests in law. 

Development of Advising Resources

The law school will provide students with the resume and supporting statement submitted by fellows in their application. Fellows are encouraged to submit additional materials that may be helpful to students. In addition, fellows should be prepared to discuss what a typical workday looks like for them (i.e. time spent working on substantive matters, supervision of others, and administrative tasks). They should be ready to suggest books or articles of interest, as well as information about other organizations or opportunities in their field, including relevant contacts. 

Community Events

Each fellow should be prepared to participate in several small or midsize GW Law community events coordinated by the Public Interest and Public Service Law Center. These events might involve a panel discussion, an open-ended question period, or a formal presentation. In addition, fellows should be available to meet with small groups of students and interested faculty over lunch or dinner. If circumstances allow, there may also be an opportunity for fellows to speak in classes addressing subject areas within their expertise.