2023 Public Interest Fellowship Application

About the Program

The Application for SABA-DC's 2022 Public Interest Fellowship Program is NOW AVAILABLE for download here: SABA DC Fellowship Application 2023.docx.  The due date for applications is April 14, 2023!

SABA-DC provides financial assistance in the form of summer fellowships to law students working at public interest organizations in the metropolitan D.C. area. The primary purpose of the fellowship is to help fund a student’s internship with a public interest organization for the benefit of the South Asian community and the metropolitan D.C. area. The number of Fellowships awarded, as well as the amount of each grant, will be determined by the SABA-DC Fellowship Committee and is based on SABA-DC’s fundraising efforts and the number of quality applicants it receives. SABA-DC has provided grants up to $7,500 per fellow in past years, and sponsors several fellows every year.

This year, we are also hosting an informational zoom event on March 25th at 6:00PM EST featuring four former SABA-DC Public interest fellows who will discuss their experiences. Please find more information, including a registration link here. We encourage all interested applicants to attend and engage with our former fellows! 

We are also hosting an informational zoom event on Tuesday, March 21st at 6:30 PM EST featuring former SABA-DC Public interest fellows who will discuss their experiences. We encourage all interested applicants to attend and engage with our former fellows! Please register to attend.

Please contact sabadcpifellowship@gmail.com with any questions.

Fellowship Selection Criteria

Each applicant must be a current law student in good standing, and must have received confirmation of employment or internship with a public interest organization during the summer of 2022. Public interest law can be practiced in various settings to include: nonprofit organizations; legal services organizations; district attorneys'/public defenders' offices; federal, state, and local government; and public service law firms. SABA-DC considers all of the materials submitted by the applicant, with particular weight given to the applicant’s essay. In addition, SABA-DC will schedule interviews with applicants as part of the selection process. Other factors that SABA-DC may consider include commitment to public service, financial need, academic achievement, and other criteria. Fellows are expected to complete two short essays about their experience before the end of their fellowship and to attend at least three SABA-DC events during the summer of their fellowship. Fellows are also encouraged to attend the SABA-DC Public Interest Gala (due to COVID-19, this event may be virtual in 2022), typically held in October.

Please note that those students who might be interning for Washington D.C. area based public interest employers but are performing their work virtually due to the pandemic would still qualify.

SABA-DC Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of SABA-DC not to discriminate on the basis of age, gender, disability, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All potential applicants are encouraged to apply.

For more information about the Public Interest Fellowship Program, please contact us at sabadcpifellowship@gmail.com.  For more information about contributing to the Public Interest Fellowship Fund, please contact us at: sabadcpresident@gmail.com.

Support the SABA-DC Public Interest Fellowship

The Public Interest Fellowship is funded through the generosity of SABA-DC members and its supporters.  Each fall, SABA-DC hosts an annual Public Interest Benefit Gala to raise funds for this important program and to celebrate its fellows.

If you cannot attend the Gala but would like to support the fellowship, please submit a donation using the form below.  We truly appreciate your support!

Please check out our 2021 SABA-DC Public Interest Fellowship Video.