2025 Fellowship Program

 
 

Ali & Lockwood is accepting applications for a two-year fellowship, to begin around September 1, 2025 (start date flexible). The fellowship will be located in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office, with a salary scale of $95,000-$115,000, based on year of graduation, plus full benefits. Our fellow will be fully integrated into all aspects of the firm’s work and receive significant responsibility for cutting-edge constitutional and complex litigation.

Our Firm

We are a woman-owned, civil rights-focused litigation boutique in Washington, DC. Our docket comprises a mix of civil rights and complex commercial litigation, at both the trial and appellate levels.

Our civil rights practice is focused on the criminal legal system and includes both individual plaintiff damages suits and larger systemic reform cases. One of the best things about being a small shop is that we have a lot of flexibility when it comes to building our docket. So while we focus heavily on cases involving police misconduct and the rights of prisoners and criminal defendants, our docket sweeps much more broadly.

On the commercial side, we handle a range of business disputes and other civil litigation matters, and are frequently retained to represent individuals and third parties who are the target of investigations and deposition and/or document subpoenas.

What We Are Looking For

Ideal candidates will have 1-3 years of post-law school practice experience (clerkship(s) included), be barred (or bar membership pending) in D.C., and possess the following qualities/experience:

  • A demonstrated interest in and knowledge of some of our key civil rights issue areas (e.g., § 1983, Monell, the Prison Litigation Reform Act).

  • Strong research and writing skills, paired with an enthusiasm for remaining open to feedback and receptive to a collaborative editing process.

  • Strong organizational skills, including the ability to follow-through on assignments independently, manage several projects at once, and be flexible in responding to changing priorities and deadlines. 

  • Being a team player, which is critical in a small firm environment. We also frequently co-counsel with nonprofits and law firms, and being able to work collaboratively and maintain those relationships is important.

  • The ability to maintain a sense of humor and perspective. We of course approach our cases and clients with respect and humility, but our work often involves difficult and heavy subject matter. We find that being able to inject some levity into the day-to-day makes our work more sustainable. And we find working together and the practice of law fun. We are looking for a colleague who shares that perspective and those values, and (like us) does not take themselves too seriously.

  • We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and an inclusive culture.

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To apply, send your resume, a writing sample (10 pages or less; an excerpt is fine), law school transcript, and a brief cover letter including three references to hello@alilockwood.com, with the subject line: “2025 Fellowship Candidate.” Please combine your application materials into a single PDF prior to submission.

Applications are due by March 17, 2025. No telephone inquiries, please.