Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship

Empire_Justice_CenterApplications are currently being accepted from students entering or in their third year of law school for the 2015-2017 Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship ‐ an exciting, two‐year, public interest fellowship.

The Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship will be awarded to a talented, committed law school graduate at the beginning of her or his career in the area of poverty law. All applicants must be entering or in their third year of law school. The fellow will be placed at the Empire Justice Center in Rochester, NY and will represent low-income clients in complex areas of litigation and other types of advocacy. The fellow’s background and interests will be matched with high priority legal concerns of the poor which are not currently being addressed or that require additional resources. The duration of the Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship is two years; starting salary is $47,000. In addition, Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefits package.

The goal of the Fellowship is to increase legal advocacy for Greater Rochester’s low-income families in high priority areas that are currently underserved. In addition, the Fellowship is designed to attract dynamic and talented, new lawyers to the practice of poverty law.

The Fellowship is funded in Hanna’s memory by her family, as well as through private contributions and donations to a Memorial Fund. The application deadline is October 15, 2014. The fellow will be notified in January, 2015 and will begin work in September, 2015.

Please submit with this application:

  • A 1-2 page cover letter detailing what influenced your decision to attend law school, and why you want to represent low-income people;
  • Official law school transcript;
  • Resume;
  • Two letters of recommendation highlighting your ability and commitment to practice poverty law;
  • Completed application and essay.