Fellows

Fellowship Program

For 25 years, the Rappaport Fellowship has been a launching pad for emerging leaders 鈥� lawyers, policymakers, and change agents who are strengthening the Commonwealth and shaping its future.听

Fellows don鈥檛 just spend a summer interning in state and local government.听 They get access to the centers of civic innovation and problem-solving in Massachusetts, build enduring connections, and join a legacy of leadership and impact.

Program Benefits
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Immersive Legal Experience
10 weeks interning in state or local government, tackling urgent, meaningful work.
Paid Internship
Students receive a $10,000 stipend.
Mentorship & Networks
A personal 鈥渂oard of directors for life鈥� through mentorship by seasoned leaders in public policy and public service, peers, and a robust alumni network.
Experiential Learning
Weekly sessions with leaders and institutions driving change.

Past fellows gained experience drafting and arguing motions, researching and writing appellate briefs, revamping policies, tracking and analyzing pending legislation, drafting legal determinations, engaging with stakeholders, determining the appropriate legal strategy or enforcement action, among other meaningful projects.

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2027 Application Deadline

Summer Fellowship applications will open in December 2026 and close in January 2027.

Prospective fellows should speak with their law school鈥檚 public interest career services team.听

Quick View

10 Weeks
Placement Duration

$10k
Stipend

100+
Agency partners

How to Apply

The Fellowships are available to law students from eight Massachusetts law schools:

Boston College Law School
Boston University School of Law
Harvard Law School
New England Law | Boston
Northeastern University School of Law
Suffolk University Law School
University of Massachusetts School of Law
Western New England University School of Law

Applicants should demonstrate:

A commitment to public service听
Enthusiasm specifically for policy and government work, among various ways of doing good听
Demonstrated interest in a policy issue, derived from lived, educational, or professional experience听
Demonstrated leadership potential (teamwork, selfreflection, growth mindset)
Understanding of how our Fellowship can help their development
Capacity to add value and succeed in legal workplace (strong academic and professional record, clear and technically sound writing, keen analytical skills, initiative and curiosity)

Resume (no more than 2 pages)
Transcripts from law school and undergraduate
Names and contact information of two recent references (professional or academic)
Application, including 3 short essay questions听
Please reply in less than 250 words without using AI.

Interviews:听
- 24-30 finalists will be chosen to interview with a 4-person panel at the end of January-early February with short notice (72 hours)
- Interviews will take place virtually and last for 30 minutes per conversation
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Decisions:
- Invitations usually extended in mid-February by phone
- This allows for significant lead time for Rappaport staff to match Fellows with mentors and for Fellows to finalize internship placements

Curious to learn more? Watch an information session and explore past event recordings:

2024 Rappaport fellows

“ Each experiential learning opportunity on its own was incredible. But what makes Rappaport special is how it brings people together with different backgrounds to think through problems that are all connected and related to law. ”

Kadie Martin , 2019 Rappaport Fellow

Internship Placements

Internships take place at a state or municipal agency in Massachusetts (not a nonprofit or federal government position) AND in a position focused on policy.听Internships may be obtained on your own or through a placement by the Rappaport Center.听Applicants should be applying for summer internships independent of the process of submitting an application for a Rappaport Fellowship.

Applying independently helps you identify opportunities that may be of interest, demonstrate your interest in those agencies and in policy work, and helps the agencies with their hiring process and workstream. However, one of the unique features of the Rappaport Fellowship is the placement support.

Past internships include: