Please submit a cover letter and resume as one document when applying for this position. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The University of Michigan Law Clinical Fellows Program seeks applicants for a fellowship in its Civil Rights Litigation Initiative. This is a two-year appointment with the possibility of extension for a third year.

The Clinical Fellows Program is designed to fully support attorneys wishing to explore the possibility of a career in clinical teaching. Michigan Clinical Fellows gain valuable experience and mentoring in clinical pedagogy and in their substantive area of practice. Their duties include clinical teaching and student supervision in conjunction with a clinic director, and participation in the operation and development of the clinic in which they teach. Support is provided for personal and professional development and scholarship. Michigan Clinical Fellows have enjoyed success on the national job market and are teaching in clinics at law schools across the country.

The Civil Rights Litigation Initiative (CRLI) represents clients in federal and state court on a wide variety of important civil rights and civil liberties issues, including racial justice, free speech, immigrant rights, fair housing, police misconduct, women's rights, student rights, disability rights, voting rights, and reproductive freedom. It litigates impact cases, cases that vindicate the rights of individuals, and cases that support movements for social change. It also works in coalition with community groups on civil rights projects such as Justice InDeed, an organization that addresses racially restrictive covenants. For more information about CRLI, including the CRLI docket and media coverage, see the CRLI page   on the Michigan Law website.

Michigan's Clinical Fellows salaries and benefits are competitive. The fellowship begins in the summer of 2026.

Founded in 1859, Michigan Law School is one of the world's leading institutions of legal education and enjoys a reputation for academic excellence. Michigan is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the nation, and enjoys international renown for its intellectual rigor, stunning physical surroundings, preeminent faculty scholarship, and a community noted for collegiality and warmth. Michigan Law has an exceptional and cooperative community of talented and interesting students, with 1000 in the J.D. and 40 in the LL.M. program. Our commitments to collegiality, to constructive and challenging debate, and to enabling our students to pursue a wide range of options explain why the Law School has long been committed to diversity along many dimensions. Our graduates serve with distinction in the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors, in large numbers in every major market in the nation, as well as internationally. The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is considered among the best places in the United States to live and work.

The successful applicant will have meaningful civil rights litigation experience, strong writing skills, a strong interest in clinical teaching, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing civil rights. Candidates must hold a J.D. degree and be eligible for licensure in Michigan. 

The ideal candidate will have three or more years of experience litigating a range of civil rights cases, some teaching experience, and the potential for producing strong scholarship.

Questions may be directed to Associate Dean Debra Chopp at dchopp@umich.edu or 734-763-1948. 

The deadline to apply is January 12, 2026.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.