LEGAL AID POSTGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROCEDURES

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: TeamChild

WEBSITE: www.teamchild.org

OFFICE LOCATIONS: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane and Yakima Counties

CONTACT PERSON: Anne Lee, Executive Director, anne.lee@teamchild.org

WHEN DOES ORGANIZATION SELECT FELLOWSHIP PROJECT(S)? TeamChild develops fellowship projects internally and posts them by June at the latest.

HOW DOES ORGANIZATION SELECT FELLOWSHIP PROJECT? TeamChild's Executive Director, Legal Supervisor, and other statewide staff stay in tune with broader issues that are impacting TeamChild clients. These issues may become the focus of TeamChild's Youth Law and Policy Internship, volunteer research projects and are also potential fellowship project ideas. If a fellowship project is developed by TeamChild, it will be posted by mid June for interested law students to apply for fellowship sponsorship at TeamChild.

ARE STUDENT PROPOSALS INVITED? Not typically. TeamChild develops fellowship ideas based on current needs of the organization. However, TeamChild is open to hearing project ideas from students. Even when TeamChild has developed the idea for the fellowship project, TeamChild aims to work collaboratively with potential fellows so that the project meets TeamChild's needs and appeals to the potential fellow.

HOW DOES ORGANIZATION SELECT FELLOWSHIP CANDIDATE? Once TeamChild's proposed fellowship project is posted in June, TeamChild invites students to contact Annie Lee, Executive Director, with a cover letter and resume indicating the law student's interest in the fellowship project and TeamChild. Fellowship applicants are reviewed and interviewed by the Executive Director and other statewide staff to determine qualifications and fit with the organization. The decision whether or not to sponsor a student for a fellowship application is made based on the student's qualifications, fit with the project, and the current staff needs of the organization. During 2009, TeamChild faces several potential funding cuts and the decision to host a fellow will also be based on the organization's funding limitations and other concerns, such as office space and staff time to supervise and orient a fellow. Decisions about fellowship applicants will be made by August 1st in order to allow adequate time for TeamChild and the fellowship applicant to complete the fellowship applications.

WHICH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS DOES THE ORGANIZATION APPLY FOR NATIONALLY AND/OR LOCALLY? Once TeamChild decides to sponsor a fellow, TeamChild staff and the fellow applicant work collaboratively to identify which fellowship opportunities to apply for both locally and nationally. Deadlines for most fellowship applications are between September and October.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT DOES THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDE THE FELLOWSHIP CANDIDATE DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS? Once a fellow applicant is selected, TeamChild closely supervises and works collaboratively with the fellow applicant throughout the entire application process. TeamChild staff review drafts, complete any employer portions of the applications, and help the fellow applicant prepare for interviews. TeamChild has hosted several prior fellows and uses this network to help fellow applicants prepare their application materials and prepare for the interview process for each fellowship.