Eligible applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students based in the U.S. who are passionate about social justice, equity, and community engagement. We welcome students from all majors and backgrounds. No legal background is required.

Access the application here and complete all required fields, and submit it by February 27, 2026. You can also email questions to programs@blackdefender.org

No. While BPDA centers the experiences of Black communities and defenders, we encourage students of all backgrounds to apply. All applicants should be committed to equity and social justice.

The fellowship takes place during the summer of 2026. Specific start and end dates may vary slightly by host site.

For 2026, fellows will be placed in the following locations:

• Brooklyn Defender Services (Brooklyn, NY)
• Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office (Martinez, CA)
• Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office (Cleveland, OH)
• Defender Association of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
• The Legal Aid Society (New York, NY)

In order to receive the best experience, in-person participation is required. However, you may coordinate with your specific host site to determine whether a hybrid option is available. 

Each fellow will receive at least $4,000 for their participation in the full 8-10 week program. Some host sites offer pay parity with their other internship programs, while other offices pay by the hour. Therefore, you may even receive more than the $4000 minimum stipend for your participation. 

No. BPDA believes in an expanded definition of defense. This includes, but is not limited to, students studying social work, public health, policy, education, community organizing, and communications.

Projects will vary by host site, but may include community outreach, event planning, coalition building, research, storytelling, client support, or public education campaigns. Fellows will learn how public defense intersects with community care.

This is generally a full-time fellowship (30-40 hours per week), but exact schedules will be discussed with each host site during placement.

This opportunity is currently open only to students who are based in the United States.

You may be able to receive academic credit through your university. You can ask your host site during the interview if they will be able to provide documentation or supervisor support if your institution offers internship/fellowship credit. It’s your responsibility to coordinate with your school and host site.

Housing is not provided. Fellows may be eligible to apply for a housing stipend based on demonstrated need, but funding is limited and not guaranteed. Additional details will be shared upon acceptance, and we strongly encourage applicants to begin exploring independent housing options early.

Applicants can indicate their location preferences on the application. While we will do our best to match fellows with their preferred sites, final placements will depend on availability, alignment with host needs, and applicant experience.

Yes. Host sites will directly invite finalists to a virtual interview before selections are made. Interviews will take place between March 3 and March 27, 2026, with all offers finalized by March 31.

Register for our Recruitment Series on February 18 at 6 PM CST | 7 PM EST
Black Public Defender Association: Meet Your Host Site

Join us for a virtual panel to hear directly from our host sites about their community engagement projects and what to expect as a BPDA Fellow.