Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), located in Berkeley, California, invites candidates to apply for sponsorship for Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and/or other public interest fellowship applications for the one- to two-year period beginning Fall 2026.
DREDF is a national, non-profit law and policy organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, education, legislation, and public policy. We work to enforce the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, the Fair Housing Act Amendments, and other civil rights laws. DREDF regularly works with legal fellows and law student interns, and DREDF lawyers teach disability rights law at Bay Area law schools. Our office is comprised of not only attorneys, but also special education advocates and policy analysts, which provides for an interdisciplinary perspective on disability rights issues.
DREDF works intensively with prospective fellows to develop projects that address critical disability civil rights law issues. We are interested in candidates who will collaborate on simultaneous applications to more than one funder. We have been successful in obtaining past fellowship awards. We are committed to supporting and advising candidates during the application process to ensure that a high-quality and well-informed application is submitted.
Fellowship projects should connect to DREDF’s areas of engagement and expertise. Our advocacy priorities include defending and advancing the rights of disabled people in: education; access to government programs and services; housing; health care including long-term services and supports; transportation; technology; parenting and the dependency system; and self-determination and decision-making. You can read more about DREDF on our website at https://dredf.org/.
We welcome projects that advance the rights of disabled people from multiply marginalized communities including people of color, LGBTQI+, immigrants, people involved in the criminal legal system, and people who are or who have been incarcerated or institutionalized. You do not need a fully developed project proposal in order to apply.
Qualifications
- J.D. degree by or before June (Spring Semester) 2026
- California bar membership or a plan to become a member
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and public interest law
- Established knowledge of and interest in civil rights and disability rights laws
- Ability to work independently and cordially with others
- Excellent legal research and writing skills
How to Apply
By July 25, 2025, submit the following materials to info@dredf.org. Please write “ATTN: 2026 – 2028 Fellowship Application [LAST NAME]” in the subject line.
- A concise cover letter describing your interest in DREDF and public interest law, and containing a brief project proposal (if you have one)
- Resume
- Law school transcript
- Writing sample
- Three professional or academic references
Equal Opportunity Employer
DREDF values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or weight. We encourage and welcome people of color, people with disabilities, higher weight people, parents of children with disabilities, LGBTQI people, and people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds to apply.
Questions
Please contact Hongyu Min at hmin@dredf.org with any questions.