The objectives of these fellowships are to provide students with an opportunity to experience the practice of law, interact with alumni, gain a better understanding of the American legal system, and engage in meaningful vocational discernment.

This fellowship provides students with an opportunity to experience the practice of law, receive mentorship from alumni in law, gain a better understanding of the American legal system, and engage in vocational discernment.

The fellowship supports students for an 8-10 week legal work experience at one of several possible placements. All placements are with organizations serving the legal needs of traditionally under-served communities in Chicago. Represeentative placements include:

Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) - LCLC provides criminal defense services and develops restorative justice programs for juveniles and young adults in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. The fellow's duties will include assisting LCLC with case preparation, office management, and will helping to organize a summer moot court program for high school students from the community.

Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH) - LCBH is the only non-profit law firm in the Chicago area that focuses solely on low and moderate income renters in the private housing market. LCBH provides free legal and supportive services to improve housing stability for lower income renters while advocating for the rights of all renters until everyone in Chicago has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.

Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) - CGLA supports low-income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal legal system. Its mission is to seek justice and mercy for those living in poverty by providing legal services that strengthen individual lives, families, and communities. CGLA aims to proactively fill the voids of legal representation, wraparound services, and advocacy for indivduals affected by the criminal legal system.

Greater Chicago Legal Clinic (GCLC) - GCLC is a nonprofit legal aid organization that provides a variety of legal and support services to the poor outside of criminal defense. Their legal services address issues of housing, such as homelessness, eviction, foreclosure, and residential home transactions, family law, immigration, social security, consumer law, and environmental law.

Each summer legal fellow will be paired with an alumni lawyer/mentor. Mentors and fellows will meet three times during the summer, in addition to a pre-fellowship meeting about professional expectations during the internship. It is anticipated that there will be several additional opportunities to meet with Chicago based alumni working in different areas of the law.

These positions come with a $5,000 stipend to assist with living expenses and future educational expenses.

In addition to this application, you will need a faculty recommendation. Please have the faculty member use this JotForm to fill one out for you: https://form.jotform.com/210824357866968.

Application deadline is March 1, 2023.

Students receiving scholarship funds will be required to: 

• Fulfill the duties assigned by the eligible organization for the entirety of the 8-10 weeks.
• Attend all required meetings, including
  • Pre-fellowship meeting(s) before the summer
  • One on one meetings with a mentor during the summer
  • Group gatherings with alumni in law during the summer
• Commit to the Wheaton College Community Covenant while participating in the internship.
• Participate in pre-internship professional development activities, as provided by CUE staff or Fellowship facilitators.
• Thank donors and help promote the opportunity for future scholarship recipients.
• Be listed as an awardee at the Wheaton College Honors Convocation ceremony during a spring chapel time.

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