UC Davis School of Law Announces New Post-Graduate Fellows Program
To assist recent graduates in a challenging legal job market, UC Davis School of Law is announcing a new post-graduate fellowship program. The program will offer one-year paid positions after graduation with the UC Davis Campus Counsel and Internal Audit Services, Legal Services of Northern California, and the Law School's Immigration Law Clinic. Other placement opportunities are in the works. Fellowship positions will be open to 2013 graduates of UC Davis School of Law.
With the full support of Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter, the newly available campus positions for 2013 graduates are as follows. On the main UC Davis campus, two positions for 2013 law graduates will be available in the UC Davis Office of the Campus Counsel. Fellowship applicants also may seek a one year full-time position with campus Internal Audit Services, which provides independent audit services to the campus.
The Law School, with financial support from the Mabie-Apallas Public Interest Chair (held by Dean Kevin R. Johnson), will fund a new full-time post-graduate fellowship for a staff attorney position at Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC), the largest legal services provider in California. The Mabie-Apallas Public Interest Chair also annually funds a summer clerk position with LSNC through the King Hall Legal Foundation.
With private support, the Law School's Immigration Law Clinic will offer a new one year full-time fellowship to support its work with immigrant youth seeking relief through the U.S. government's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“These new fellowships are a welcome and necessary step in assisting our graduates in a challenging legal job market," said Dean Kevin R. Johnson. "Collaboration with the main UC Davis campus and other organizations is critical to supporting these future lawyers in a time when job opportunities are limited and legal needs are great.”
Additional fellowship opportunities are in the works. The School of Law is in discussion with a number of campus offices, including UC Davis Design and Construction Management, to create new fellowship opportunities for recent graduates. Last year, the Law School partnered with California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) to fund a fellowship position for a 2012 graduate. The School is currently in discussion with CRLAF and other public interest organizations to jointly fund similar positions.
The School of Law has reached out to members of the California State Assembly about the possibility of starting a legislative post-graduate fellowship program. To increase exposure of the students to the California Legislature, the School also is in the process of revamping its legislative externship program by expanding the number of externship hours and units students can secure for a Legislative externship. The Law School will continue working with the Legislature to expand externship opportunities for King Hall students.
The School of Law already funds a number of fellowship and research assistant positions for recent graduates. Recent UC Davis School of Law graduates are working in fellowships with our California International Law Center and California Environmental Law & Policy Center. The School of Law hopes to extend these positions another year. Meanwhile, with private support, student research assistants continue to work with the California Law Revision Commission, a research organization of the California Legislature housed in the UC Davis School of Law building, King Hall.