The Institute for Justice’s Dave Kennedy Fellowship summer program provides an unparalleled opportunity for select law students to substantively contribute to IJ’s cutting-edge civil-rights litigation. Fellows conduct legal research; help develop litigation strategies for active and potential cases; and help draft discovery requests, motions, and briefs filed in both state and federal court.
Fellows have been involved in projects as diverse as:
- Developing and helping to launch a case against abusive zoning enforcement, including traveling to participate in a press conference for the case launch.
- Researching and drafting a section of a federal appellate brief on a First Amendment challenge to a vague statute restricting political campaigning.
- Presenting a proposal memo to IJ’s litigation team on a potential new area of litigation.
- Drafting portions of an appellate reply brief in an ongoing property rights case.
- Traveling with IJ attorneys to meet with potential clients and assess facts for a possible new lawsuit.
- Researching appellate court treatment of FTCA actions to support Supreme Court merits briefing in a police brutality case.
- Reviewing body camera footage from traffic stops and other law enforcement encounters to develop evidence for ongoing litigation.
- Participating in moots for dispositive-motion hearings and oral arguments.
- Developing litigation strategies for potential challenges to licensing requirements in several states across the country.
In addition to assisting with the demands of IJ’s fast-paced litigation docket, Fellows participate in weekly programming including IJ’s summer speaker series, mentorship by IJ litigators, and practical training through which Fellows connect with the leading minds and advocates of the liberty movement, receive career guidance, and improve their litigation, communication, and legal research skills.
IJ’s Dave Kennedy Fellowship positions are highly competitive. The fellowship is a paid opportunity, offering $8,000 for the 10-week program, and generally runs from the last week of May through early August. Fellowship opportunities are available at five of IJ’s offices:
- Arlington, VA (Headquarters)
- Miami, FL
- Austin, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Seattle, WA
To be considered, please complete the application and submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Please indicate which office you’d like to apply to. If you’re applying to multiple offices, please rank then in order of preference.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. All applications are due by Friday, February 6th but we will begin interviews and will hire students on a rolling basis beginning in mid-December.
To read more about the opportunity, visit our career page here: https://ij.org/careers/
The Office of Career Strategy posts job listings for the convenience of students. The University does not endorse or recommend employers and a posting does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. The University explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about job listings or the accuracy of the information provided by the employer. The University is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or any other aspect of off-campus employment without limitation. It is the responsibility of students to perform due diligence in researching employers when applying for or accepting private, off-campus employment and to thoroughly research the facts and reputation of each organization to which they are applying. Students should be prudent and use common sense and caution when applying for or accepting any position. All concerns and issues related to job and/or internship opportunities, including those posted within the Yale Career Link, should be addressed promptly via email to the Office of Career Strategy.
