This year, your gift will support the PEEL Postgraduate Fellowship Program, which provides paid, short-term legal fellowships for recent graduates who are still searching for full-time jobs. The goal is simple: to make sure talented new environmental lawyers can keep doing meaningful legal work, gaining experience, and receiving mentorship — instead of facing unemployment or having to step away from public interest law.
We launched this program in response to an especially difficult job market, particularly in public interest and environmental law. With shifting priorities, funding uncertainty, and hiring freezes across many government agencies and nonprofits, even incredibly strong graduates are facing longer and more uncertain job searches.
This year, nine graduates joined our first fellowship cohort, working on projects related to environmental protection, environmental justice, wildlife conservation, corporate sustainability, international environmental law, and animal rights. So far, five of the nine fellows have already secured permanent jobs, and others are actively interviewing. The generosity will help them stay professionally engaged, build their resumes, and make strong connections.