The legal profession has long been captured by corporate interests. As a result, we have a legal system built to serve those same interests, rather than the everyday people most in need of justice. This corporate capture begins as soon as law students arrive on campus; rarely, if ever, do those campuses have well-organized and adequately-supported forces pushing back against this capture. In order to effectively challenge the pro-corporate nature of the legal profession, organizing efforts are needed on two fronts. First, the culture on law school campuses must change so that pro-corporate work is no longer seen as politically and morally neutral, but rather understood as something that actively harms already marginalized and vulnerable people. Second, pro-people, public-interest careers need to be more accessible for students and recent graduates who, even when interested in pro-people work, often find that pro-corporate legal jobs are their only practical option.

That's why the People's Parity Project is thrilled to host its Leadership Fellows program.

Dedicated organizers on individual law school campuses who are properly identified, trained, and supported can effectively build a legal culture that is pro-people, not pro-corporate. Last year, PPP launched a pilot program in which seven rising 2Ls on law school campuses across the country joined the first cohort of PPP Leadership Fellows. The inaugural cohort has already been doing incredible work, and we are excited to expand the program to more students.

For the new cohort of students, the PPP Leadership Fellows program is open to rising 2Ls with an anticipated two-year commitment. The fellowship will start in September 2023 and finish in May 2025.

These Fellows will be the beneficiaries of significant investment from PPP: they will participate in yearly retreats with their fellowship cohort and fellows from other classes, attend a customized quarterly speaker series, receive a dedicated mentor and significant career support, build organizing and advocacy skills and connections to like-minded individuals both on and beyond their individual campuses, and be eligible for externship credit and school summer funding with PPP.

A significant amount will also be asked of Fellows: each will be expected to dedicate 10–15 hours per week during the academic year (except during finals periods) to leading organizing efforts on their campus to end the corporate capture of the legal profession and to advocate for legislation at the state and municipal levels in support of their local communities. Fellows will work with the PPP staff team to choose 1–2 campaigns to prioritize during the year; sample campaigns include advocating for increased representation of public interest, labor, and plaintiffs' attorneys on state courts; joining or leading legislative advocacy campaigns ending coercive contracts, passing just cause employment protections, or civil right to counsel; or enacting innovative law school funding programs for public interest students at the individual school level.

**DEADLINE EXTENDED**

To join the next cohort of Leadership Fellows, please submit this application by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, June 23rd. All applicants also need to send a resume and two letters of recommendation (which can be sent directly by your recommenders) to Steve Kennedy, PPP's Organizing & Network Director, at steve@peoplesparity.org.