Equal Justice Works opens 2027 Design Your Own Fellowship application; $66,500 stipend available

Equal Justice Works on a webinar for host organizations and law‑school advisors outlined the 2027 Design Your Own (DYO) Fellowship application process and key dates. Al Roberts, senior manager for recruitment and enrollment, said the online application opened May 21, 2026 and is due Sept. 17, 2026; fellows selected in the cycle will begin host placement in September 2027 for a two‑year term.

Lauren Hartley, associate director for network engagement, said the DYO model centers on four components: the substantive project, the fellow, the host organization (the fellow's employer and supervisor) and sponsors (law firms, corporate legal departments, foundations or individuals that fund the position). “We think of it as being kind of 4 main components, and those are the project, the candidate, the host organization and our sponsors,” Hartley said, summarizing how proposals are evaluated.

Roberts clarified program support: “Just saw one pop up in chat, about the $66,500 in fellow stipend…that can be applied to both salary and fringe benefits,” and said host organizations must certify that the fellow’s pay aligns with comparable first‑year attorney salaries at the host. The organization publishes sponsor preferences before interviews and will post recordings and resource guides on its application landing page.

The webinar emphasized that applications are reviewed by alumni and sponsors; Hartley said roughly 300 applications produced about 60 fellows in recent years (about a 1‑in‑5 selection rate). The application includes required elements such as two letters of recommendation, a host organization certification, and a question asking whether the candidate is applying to other fellowships to assist with timing and scheduling.