How do you apply? Both the law school graduates and Host LSOs apply using an online application, which can be accessed via our LSFN website: www.legalservicesfundersnetwork.org. 

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How many Fellows and LSO Hosts are in a cohort? In 2025 we will have approximately 23 Fellows. We unfortunately are unable to accept all qualified applicants and LSO Hosts. Based on recent years, the acceptance rate has been between 50-60%.

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How is the Fellow’s stipend paid? Payment is done electronically via Bill.com. Fellows will receive instructions re: how to sign up. The payments will be done in three tranches: June, September and November. 

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What about the LSO Host Stipend? Payment is made in a single transfer of funds in August via a DAF held a Fidelity. All LSO Hosts must register with Fidelity to receive their stipends. If an organization needs help with this task, the LSFN will provide assistance.

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Can an LSFN Fellow receive funding from other fellows programs simultaneously? Yes. The LSFN Fellow’s application does not ask for this information and it is not a factor in our process. 

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What is the source of the funds that are being paid to the Fellows and the LSOs? The funds come from contributions made by LSFN funders. The payments will come from the LSFN’s fiscal sponsor, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC). Both the LSFN Fellows and LSO Hosts must complete paperwork required by LAAC to receive funds. 

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What about health insurance? And how are Fellows classified? As noted in the program description, the LSFN Fellowship is a post-graduate learning opportunity that offers recent law school graduates firsthand experience and training in various fields of poverty law. Fellows will receive a stipend to help with living costs, educational loan payments and transportation. The stipend is a lump sum (paid in three installments) and we recommend that LSO Hosts not attempt to compute an hourly “rate”. That said, Fellows do track the time they spend with their LSOs for both the LSFN data analysis and for LSOs to determine how much time is being devoted to assignments/tasks. The stipend may be considered taxable income and we expect Fellows to do their own research and seek guidance from tax advisors as to how this may affect their personal taxes. As the fellowship is a temporary position, we do not expect or anticipate LSO Hosts to provide fellows with benefits (health insurance, vacation and/or sick pay). For LSFN Fellows in need of health insurance, the LSFN has a resource page that highlights several low cost options. 

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Why are only certain law schools and counties included? As noted in the program description, matching Fellows and LSOs in the same or a nearby county is important to us to make this a "locals helping locals program", limit commutes and avoid the need for LSFN Fellows to relocate. Fellows must attend California law schools. 

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Can a 2025 LSFN Fellow reside outside of the Bay Area/Central Coast? The courts and LSOs have resumes in person work in full or part-time. As a result, we do not offer the fellowship to graduates who do not plan to reside in the Bay Area, Northern California or the Central Coast from August-November. 

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When are the Fellows expected to work? This is a part-time fellowship. The commitment is 400hrs (375hrs are devoted to the LSO Host and 25hrs to the LSFN) in total, with approximately 7-8 hrs being completed by June 15th and the remainder after the bar exam. The initial 7-8 hrs is broken down into three portions:

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(1) Four (4) hours attending LSFN Learning Sessions

(2) Two (2) hours for LSFN “onboarding” tasks such as: PTLS forms, creating/updating LinkedIn profiles, registering on Slack, etc. 

(3) 30 min “check-in” with your primary mentor

(4) One to two  (1-2) hours for the initial meeting with the LSO Host. This can includes activities such as: meeting with the Fellow’s supervisor(s), attending a staff meeting, onboarding and reviewing the LSOs handbook/other operations materials, reviewing substantive law related to the LSOs focus (this may include PLI and Bar Association training videos) and potentially observing a client meeting, court hearing or policy meeting. Note: Fellows may complete more hours pre-bar if they chose to do so.

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Fellows may not be scheduled to work during the six week period from mid June through July Fellows must re-engage with their LSO Host by mid-August. The remainder of the schedule is up to the Fellow and LSO Host. Many Fellows take a break after the Bar Exam, start full-time with their LSO Host in mid-August and complete their time before the end of October. Others opt to rejoin their LSO Host immediately after the bar exam, work 15-20 hours each week and stay through early December. A sample schedule chart is available. We also ask that LSO Hosts not expect Fellows to be available during Fellows cohort programs (usually held on the first TH of each month from 3:00-5:00pm) and Bar prep course times.

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What happens after the LSFN Fellow completes their hours? Historically, about half of our LSFN Fellows stay on with their LSO Host as staff attorneys, law clerks or in year-long fellowships. For many the transition is almost seamless, as they execute job offers prior to completion of the fellowship and don’t have a time gap between roles. Other Fellows opt to continue “pro bono” while they search for employment or prepare to take the bar exam again. Some Fellows accept job offers from other employers and depart their LSO Hosts once they have completed the 375 hours commitment (Note: all LSFN Fellows are required to attend Learning Sessions thru November, even if they complete their LSO Hosts hours sooner).

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Can we apply to the LSFN Fellowship program to extend the duration of a fellow/intern we currently have? Yes! As discussed in the program description, “joint” applications are prioritized. Historically close to 50% of our LSFN Fellows and LSO Hosts applied via this option. 

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Can additional application materials be submitted/requested? LSO Hosts who opt to apply via the “joint application process” may schedule interviews with prospective fellows and ask for additional materials prior to submitting their application to the LSFN. However, for those who opt for the “solo” application track, we have intentionally designed this application process to be simple, straightforward and equitable, and as a result additional materials cannot be submitted with the application. That said, applicants may visit internet sites such as LinkedIn to learn more about a prospective Fellow or LSO Host.

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How can I find a prospective Fellow or LSO Hosts to apply with “jointly”? The majority of our “joint applications” come from law students who have interned and their LSO Host previously/or are interning at the time they submit their applications. However, each year we have at least one Fellow applicant who on their own seeks out an LSO Host they do not have a prior relationship and they apply jointly. The LSFN has posted a list of all former LSO Hosts on our website. 

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Is there a required minimum GPA to participate in the program? No. We do not require a minimum GPA to participate in the LSFN Fellowship, nor do we request such information as part of the application process.

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Authorization to Work:  All Fellows must be authorized for employment in the United States without employer sponsorship.

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How many prospective Fellows/LSOs can be interviewed? Prospective LSO Hosts who apply via the “joint application track” with their prospective fellows matches may schedule interviews with prospective fellows at their own discretion. Matching “solo” applicants is done very thoughtfully by our staff. We provide each applicant with one interview at a time. Over 80% of the time both the law student and LSO Host mutually agreed they were a good fit. In a few very rare situations this is not the case and we send a second applicant to be interviewed. We do not allow consideration of more than one prospective Fellow/LSO Host at the same time.

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Can we get a copy of the MOU and Evaluations in advance? Copies of our materials are posted on the LSFN website here. That said, we may make modest edits to these materials for 2025. 

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What is required in terms of reporting? It is up to each host LSO to determine the data and measurables that they want their Fellow(s) to track, per that organization’s norm. The LSFN provides a simple form to track hours as well. As for what will be required in the mid-term and final reports to the LSFN, as you might expect, they will be straightforward and simple to complete.

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Can I talk to a 2024 Fellow or LSO Host to better understand the program? At our March 27th LSFN Fellowship Informational Session (via zoom at 3pm PT) we will have several alumni Fellows and LSO Hosts on hand to answer questions. You are also welcome to watch the recording of Stakeholder Briefings for prior cohorts, which are on the LSFN website. In addition, this year we have mentors from our 2024 Fellows cohort and LSO Host mentors available as well to help LSOs with planning and answering questions. 

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What types of tasks can I give an LSFN Fellow? As our Fellows have graduated from law school and have prior legal experience, the tasks they should be assigned are very similar to what you would give to a new staff attorney. We ask that LSO Hosts give their LSFN Fellows meaningful legal work and expose them to a range of tasks and experiences. We recommend that LSO Hosts review the State Bar PTLS site to review limitations. We will post a list of examples of tasks. 

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Can we apply for a LSFN Fellow for a specific department at our LSO? Yes. In fact, for generalist LSOs we ask that you identify the specific department(s) you are envisioning your LSFN Fellow supporting. For subject matter specific LSOs (such as immigration) or those who serve specific populations (such as Seniors), we ask that LSO Hosts specify in their applications the specific legal issues the LSFN Fellow would be cover.

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When does the PTLS expire? The State Bar of California controls the duration of the provisional license. Based on the current rules and plans for a July bar exam, the license would expire in mid-November. 

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What if we want to offer the Fellow a job after the Fellowship concludes? That would be great! In 2024 well over half of the LSFN Fellows continued on with their LSO Hosts or another LSO Host. Many of our LSFN Fellows complete their hours in October and transition to staff attorney or law clerk roles mid-month. We do require that Fellows who complete their hours “early” still attend our Learning Sessions and complete their final evaluations even if they accept other jobs prior to the end of the Fellowship season.

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Have more questions? Feel free to submit them to us at: info@legalservicesfundersnetwork.org. We will prioritize written questions submitted in advance at our April 1st zoom session and will post updates to these FAQs on the LSFN website. 

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