Arthur D. Hellman Fellowship in First Amendment Litigation
Hellman Fellows will have the opportunity to work with FIRE’s civil rights attorneys, advancing our mission to defend freedom of speech, expression, and thought for all Americans.
Overview
FIRE offers the Arthur D. Hellman Fellowship in First Amendment Litigation, a paid opportunity offering a $7,000 stipend for a 10-week program that runs from June through August. The fellowship is an important tool in establishing a structured pipeline to attract, train, and inspire law students who are committed to freedom of speech. Hellman Fellows will build a long-term relationship with FIRE, with the possibility of returning to work with us as full-time employees, joining our Legal Network where they can take their own cases pro bono, authoring supporting amicus briefs, or serving as our local counsel.
Hellman Fellows will work at FIRE's Philadelphia or D.C. office.
The 2025 Arthur D. Hellman Fellowship in First Amendment Litigation application will be open from October 1, 2024, to February 14, 2025. Applications will be received and applicants will be awarded fellowships on a rolling basis.
Qualifications and Responsibilities
To qualify for FIRE’s Hellman Fellowship, candidates must be rising 2Ls or rising 3Ls with excellent academic credentials as well as a passion for civil liberties and public interest litigation. As a Hellman Fellow, law students will have the opportunity to work with FIRE’s civil rights attorneys, advancing FIRE’s mission to defend freedom of speech, expression, and thought. Hellman Fellows will work on substantive projects and are expected to provide meaningful contributions to our strategic litigation. FIRE’s civil rights attorneys will train Hellman Fellows on key skills of public interest litigation including legal writing, media relations, and client interaction.
About Arthur Hellman
Arthur Hellman is a nationally recognized scholar of the federal courts and the First Amendment. In his career, Hellman helped foster a better understanding of the First Amendment and free speech in general. At the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Hellman taught First Amendment law for more than 25 years. He is also a senior author of a First Amendment casebook, “First Amendment Law: Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion,” with William D. Araiza, Thomas E. Baker, and Ashutosh A. Bhagwat. As a longtime supporter of FIRE, Hellman believes that preserving the spirit of free inquiry at colleges and universities is essential to maintaining a vibrant and healthy American democracy.