G. Rollie White Trust Fellowship in Public Interest Law

The G. Rollie White Trust generously supports this fellowship to increase access to justice in the United States. The fellowship funds an outstanding graduating student or judicial clerk to work with a public interest legal organization on behalf of underrepresented individuals or groups.

See the profiles at the bottom of this page for more information about the fellows and their fellowship projects.

Justice Center announces five class of 2024 postgraduate fellows

Application Information

Applications are due by noon on Friday, January 31, 2025. The selection committee will hold interviews with finalists in February.

Spring 2025 application information

In spring 2025, the G. Rollie White Trust Fellowship will fund a one-year (12 month, full-time) post-graduate fellowship with an existing public interest legal organization to provide legal services to underrepresented individuals or groups. The fellow will receive $75,000. The sponsoring organization must be a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The sponsoring organization is expected to supply and fund the benefits that a fellow would ordinarily receive as a new employee. In the event that the regular salary of a comparable position at the sponsoring organization exceeds $75,000, the sponsoring organization is encouraged to commit to paying the difference. The fellow must be supervised by a licensed attorney. The fellow and sponsoring organization will sign agreements regarding their fellowship obligations.

Before applying, applicants identify a potential sponsoring organization and collaborate with the organization to develop a description of the proposed work, training, and supervision. The proposed work should be an identified project, either a new initiative or an on-going project of the sponsoring organization. Organizations must provide support for the project and appropriate training and supervision for the fellow. Students with questions about potential sponsoring organizations or projects are welcome to contact Mary Murphy in the Career Services Office.

The fellowship is available only to Texas Law alumni. Only third-year students or recent graduates who will complete a judicial clerkship by the fall of 2025 may apply. The fellow will be chosen by a faculty committee based on the applicant’s proposed work, commitment to public service, and the demonstrated ability of the applicant and the sponsoring organization to achieve the project’s goals.

Preferences:

Preference will be given to proposed work with the potential to make a significant impact.

Preference will be given to applicants who will work in-person. Applicants who plan to work remotely or whose supervisor will work remotely must provide information from the sponsoring organization about the remote supervisory arrangement in the fellowship application.