Incoming Associates Serve the Public Interest Through Fellowship Program

Nearly half of Winston & Strawn’s incoming 2016 associates worked at public interest law organizations this summer as participants in the firm’s Public Interest Law Fellowship Program.

Created in 2011, this voluntary program places incoming associates in positions at local public interest law organizations of their choice during the period following graduation and prior to their start date at the firm. Participants who choose to participate agree to work a minimum of 300 hours during the fellowship period and receive a $10,000 stipend.

This summer’s participants worked at 23 different organizations in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Houston, gaining valuable legal experience and serving the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in our office communities.

One of our incoming Chicago associates worked with the Immigrant and Worker Rights Practice Group at LAF (formerly the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago). The volunteer director at LAF spoke highly of our fellowship participant, commenting that “He’s very responsive to our clients and has shown a real compassion for them. I have no doubt that he’s going to be a great advocate… .”

As another example, one of our incoming San Francisco associates worked with Public Advocates Inc., a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination. The agency’s president said our fellowship participant was a pleasure to work with, and her “expertise in regional government and transportation made her a perfect match for our Metropolitan Equity legal team.”

We look forward to welcoming all the talented members of our incoming associate class on September 26.