New York University School of Law and the Equal Justice Initiative are pleased to announce the availability of funded fellowships for recent NYU Law School graduates. Beginning in September, 2011, fellows will work for two years in Montgomery, Alabama, at the Equal Justice Initiative headed by Professor Bryan Stevenson.
EJI focuses on protecting the civil and human rights of the poor and people of color who suffer unfair treatment and discrimination in the legal system. EJI represents dozens of Alabama death row prisoners who have been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death; works to reform the death penalty by challenging the lack of counsel for death row prisoners; challenges life imprisonment without parole sentences for young children; advocates for medical parole on behalf of seriously ill prisoners who would pose no threat to society if released; and assists prisoners in non-capital cases who have been subjected to an abusive prosecution, who have received overly harsh or excessive sentences for nonviolent offenses, or who have been wrongfully convicted. EJI confronts and challenges racial bias in jury selection by engaging in public advocacy efforts and through legal challenges in Alabama and the Deep South involving the discriminatory use of peremptory strikes and the underrepresentation of racial minorities on grand juries, trial juries, and as jury forepersons. EJI also works in poor rural communities across the Deep South to assist people who are dealing with crippling poverty and deprivation.
Interested students should submit a letter of interest and resume to Professor Stevenson by November 22, 2010. People of color are encouraged to apply. If you have questions about the fellowship or would like more information, please feel free to contact Professor Stevenson at (212) 998-6456 or Randy Susskind at (212) 992-8887.