About Our Fellowship Program

PLAN, Inc. created the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship Program in 2004. In partnership with a sponsoring regional or specialty program, law school graduates and attorneys who are new to practice are hired as full-time staff attorneys for a two-year fellowship. The fellowship is intended to support and promote new lawyers who are interested in long term public interest careers. Fellows are assigned mentors and supervised by experienced attorneys. 

Salary and benefits are determined by the host program. In addition, loan repayment assistance (LRA), up to $5,500, is available per fellowship year. Fellows are required to apply for LRA through the PA Bar Foundation IOLTA Loan Repayment Program, their law school, and/or the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in order to receive PLAN Inc. LRA. 

Fellowship Opportunity

Host Program: 

Summit Legal Aid
Washington, Pennsylvania

Anticipated Start Date:

Spring 2024 or Summer 2024  

Host Program Background:

Summit’s mission is to provide civil justice to vulnerable people in need of legal help. Our services empower our clients by keeping families protected, homes secured, and finances stabilized.

Fellowship Details: 

The MLK, Jr. Fellow will work as a staff attorney to provide legal representation and address client’s legal issues. The position will require courtroom appearances as well as phone advice and consultation.  

Additionally, the MLK, Jr. Fellow will assist PLAN, Inc. to advance the priorities outlined in its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Initiative which includes, but is not limited, to in-person and virtual training facilitation. This role will have specific responsibilities facilitating diversity and inclusion CLE training. 

Qualifications:

Summit Legal Aid is seeking applicants who graduated from an accredited law school. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, admitted to another jurisdiction and eligible for admission in Pennsylvania. Strong computer knowledge and skills including Microsoft Office Suite, keen organization, and recognized attention to detail, work cooperatively with others, a demonstrated commitment to economic and racial justice, and the ability to establish a positive, effective, professional relationship with clients in a way that fosters client trust and confidence is a must. Must also have efficient transportation to locations other than the Summit office as needed for work. 

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and work on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 10 pounds at a time.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Include screening clients for eligibility and make referrals, as needed; conducting  factual investigation, analysis, and legal research, as needed; keeping clients informed on an ongoing basis and provide counsel about their options; preparing pleadings, including but not limited to, complaints, answers, memoranda of law, briefs as may be needed; preparing cases and represent clients in negotiations, hearings, trials, and appeals; monitoring client files and close files in a timely manner as required by program policy; planning and attending community outreach and education sessions; and collaborating with development team to identify funding opportunities and build project sustainability.

Benefits:    

• 100% paid healthcare through Highmark includes prescription and dental  
• 100% paid Life/ADD, Long-term Disability, Short-term Disability Insurance
• Paid Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)  
• Contributions to a 403b and/or Roth 403b after one-year of service (optional)

To apply for this fellowship, please submit electronically a cover letter, resume, three professional or academic references (must identify relationship with reference), official law school transcript, and a personal writing sample (limit 10 pages) to:
 

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
MLKPrograms@palegalaid.net 

Summit Legal Aid is an equal opportunity employer.