2025-2027 Civil Rights Fellowship

Relman Colfax, PLLC annually offers a two-year Civil Rights Fellowship that provides recent law school graduates the opportunity to become familiar and work closely with civil rights litigation and counseling work. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until September 15, 2024.

Relman Colfax PLLC is a national civil rights law firm, with a litigation practice focused on combating discrimination and obtaining equity, including in the areas of housing, lending, employment, public accommodations, education, and police accountability. Our practice includes individual and class action lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs who have experienced discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, national origin, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, familial status, and source of income.

The firm also provides legal counsel to progressive financial institutions, Internet-based companies, housing providers, local governments, and nonprofits wishing to be industry leaders on civil rights compliance. We conduct internal investigations and provide counseling regarding consumer protection, privacy, lending, employment, whistleblower, and federal regulatory matters. Our practice also includes analysis and strategy regarding public policy issues and proposed legislation affecting civil rights.

The Fellowship is located in the Washington, DC office and pays according to an attorney salary scale based on year of law school graduation as follows: $80,000 (0 years out); $95,000 (1 year out); $110,000 (2 years out); $120,000 (3 years out).

Skills/Qualifications:
•    J.D. degree required by the end of Spring 2025
•    Have been admitted to the bar, or be scheduled to take a bar
examination by the summer of 2025
•    Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil rights and/or racial justice
•    Excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills
•    Strong interpersonal skills

Duties/Responsibilities:
•    Conduct legal research, analysis, and writing to support litigation and/or counseling work
•    Conduct factual investigations
•    Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions and briefs
•    Interview witnesses and potential clients
•    Participate in client calls and meetings
•    Participate in discovery; conduct/defend depositions
•    Perform other duties as assigned

How to Apply:
Please submit (1) a letter of interest, (2) a resume, (3) one legal writing sample, (4) a law school transcript, and (4) the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three references via our website at https://www.relmanlaw.com/who-careers.  For all telephone inquiries, please contact Don Scales at 202-730-0318.  The legal writing sample should reflect the applicant’s own work without significant revision from others. 

Relman Colfax is an equal opportunity employer that maintains a supportive, equitable environment. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, familial status, family responsibilities, age, personal appearance, matriculation, disability, medical condition, genetic information, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. We encourage applications from people who identify with historically underserved or underrepresented communities.

Relman Colfax also provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Any applicant who needs an accommodation in the application process should contact: [email protected].