Summer 2024 Reproductive Justice Legal Fellowship

The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice, housed at the University of Texas School of Law, is seeking one rising 2L or 3L law student from any U.S. law school to support the Sissy Farenthold Reproductive Justice Defense Project during the summer of 2024. Working at the intersection of criminal law and reproductive justice, the Project provides resources for lawyers, the public, and reproductive justice and advocacy organizations; tracks criminal charges, prosecutions, and civil suits in Texas related to pregnancy and abortion; and serves as a transnational hub for academic research and advocacy regarding the criminalization of pregnancy. In the process, the Project hopes to deter investigations of and prosecutions for pregnancy-related offenses and increase the ability of individuals and communities, in the words of the Atlanta-based organization SisterSong, to “maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.”

The Summer Reproductive Justice Legal Fellow will work under the direction of Project Director Blake Rocap and Criminal Defense Lead Cristina I. Ramirez, and alongside Rapoport Center faculty and staff, as well as undergraduate and graduate student interns and fellows. This fellowship is designed for a law student seeking hands-on research and advocacy experience in the fields of reproductive rights and/or criminal defense. It is also an excellent opportunity for a student interested in pursuing a career at an academic research center or legal non-profit. A demonstrated commitment to social justice and/or reproductive health, rights, and justice is highly preferred.

The Summer Reproductive Justice Legal Fellow’s responsibilities will depend upon the priorities of the Project but might include:

• legal research and writing on reproductive justice issues, primarily in, but not exclusive to, Texas;
• helping in the tracking of criminal and civil cases in Texas related to pregnancy outcomes as part of a nationwide tracking collaborative with other advocacy groups and law schools, including retrieving and cataloging legal documents from Texas court systems;
• supporting outreach to Texas-based and national legal service providers as well as to local, national, and international partners;
• assisting in the preparation and coordination of training materials, legal resource pamphlets, presentations, and other support for attorneys, healthcare providers, and the general public in Texas and across the country;
• analyzing hospital policies for various factors related to reproductive justice;
• facilitating interdisciplinary relationships and communication across the UT campus on issues at the intersection of reproductive and criminal justice;
• attend weekly team meetings and other events hosted by the Rapoport Center and the Reproductive Justice Defense Project.

Commitment

The Summer Reproductive Justice Legal Fellow will be in-person for ten weeks in Austin, Texas, with flexible start and end dates between May and August 2024. Some remote work over the course of the fellowship is possible.

Funding

The Rapoport Center will work with the successful candidate to secure funding from their law school, an external source, or one of the Rapoport Center’s funding partners or, if preferred, to ensure academic credit for their work. A stipend will be available for anyone unable to secure their own funding.

Application Directions

Priority consideration will be given to students that apply by February 4, 2024. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, 5-10 page legal writing sample, law school transcript (unofficial is fine), and list of 3 references through the application portal.

Application Contact

For any questions, please contact Quinn Ouellette-Kray at quinn.ouellettekray@law.utexas.edu