FULL TIME FELLOWSHIPS
Through several fellowship programs, BPI is able to hire young lawyers and policy analysts on a full time basis.
Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellowship
The Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellowship, initiated in 1999, offers an invaluable opportunity for a new lawyer or policy analyst to develop
skills in preparation for a life long career of public interest advocacy. BPI hires a new Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellow each year. The
fellowship term is one year, renewable for a second year, beginning in the summer or fall. Applications are accepted each fall, and
fellows are selected by the end of the year. Click here for more information.
Skadden, NAPIL and Other Fellowships
BPI is always happy to consider sponsoring applicants for other fellowship programs. In recent years, BPI has been privileged to host several recipients of the Skadden Fellowship for young lawyers. BPI has also sponsored applicants for the Equal Justice Works Fellowships. Finally, BPI has hosted undergraduate fellows and graduate students through non-legal fellowship programs. Those who wish to explore such opportunities should send a cover letter and resume to BPI, c/o Fellowship Coordinator, 25 E. Washington Street, Suite 1515, Chicago, IL 60602.
INTERNSHIPS
Alan Saks Public Interest Internship
Now in formation, the Alan Saks Public Interest Internship will provide an annual three-month internship at BPI for a college or graduate student who demonstrates a passion for social justice and possesses outstanding leadership skills.
The Saks Internship was created by the family of Alan Saks, a founding BPI director who died in 2005. An endearing and pragmatic idealist, Alan served on BPI’s Board for 36 years and as President from 1986 – 1990. He was a life force of this organization—sharing his business acumen, enormous creativity, unique personal flair, gregarious humor, and spirited passion for social justice.
A lifelong Chicagoan who grew up on the Near West Side, Alan loved Chicago—the neighborhoods, culture, and vitality, but most of all, the people. In his professional career as President and CEO of the 50-store Saxon Paint & Hardware chain, Alan’s principles shined through. In times of pervasive disinvestment in declining urban neighborhoods, he bucked the trend, refusing to close stores in communities abandoned by other retailers. As a businessman, he was involved in many neighborhood-based initiatives and local public schools.
Co-founder of the Business Executives Movement Against the War in Vietnam, Alan served for many years on the boards of Columbia College, ACLU and Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, in addition to BPI.
The Saks Public Interest Internship will benefit BPI by increasing our capacity to do the work we do, while affording bright, talented young people—social justice advocates of the future—the opportunity to work side-by-side with BPI lawyers and policy analysts on front-burner social justice issues. The ripple effects of this internship are boundless as the Saks Interns begin their professional lives imbued with the fervor and practical skills needed to help make social justice a reality for vulnerable and voiceless people everywhere.
HOW TO APPLY:
Information on how to apply for this new program will be posted here soon.
HOW TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION:
If you wish to make a contribution to the Alan Saks Public Interest Internship Endowment, please contact BPI’s Director of Development at 312-759-8266.
Summer Internships
Each summer, BPI offers numerous paid and volunteer internships for law students, recent law school graduates, students in non-legal graduate programs and undergraduates. Many of BPI's legal interns participate in the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) program or law school sponsored internship programs. PILI provides funding for law students to work at various public interest legal organizations in Chicago. PILI also provides an opportunity for incoming associates at many of Chicago's private firms to work part time in public interest legal organizations while they are studying for the Bar Exam. Law students interested in summer internships at BPI may either submit an application through PILI or send a resume and cover letter directly to BPI, c/o Internship Coordinator, 25 East Washington Street, Suite 1515, Chicago, IL 60602.
Many undergraduate schools are able to provide funding for students to do public interest work and we welcome applications from
students at such schools. When no other funding is available, BPI is sometimes able to offer modest stipends to undergraduate interns.
Undergraduate students interested in BPI internships should send a cover letter and resume to BPI, c/o Internship Coordinator, 25 East
Washington Street, Suite 1515, Chicago, IL 60602.
School Year Internships
BPI also welcomes school year interns, both law students and students in non-legal fields. We are open to exploring a variety of arrangements, from part time to full time and paid to volunteer. The Public Interest Law Initiative offers paid spring semester internships to Chicago-area law students. Various law schools, graduate schools and undergraduate schools also offer opportunities to earn academic credit for school year internships. Those who are interested in exploring such opportunities should send a cover letter and resume to BPI, c/o Internship Coordinator, 25 E. Washington Street, Suite 1515, Chicago, IL 60602.
