Pathways
Four ways to start your legal aid career before you're sworn in
Each pathway is built around a different stage of the road to the bar. Read the fine print below before you apply — the fellowship terms are typical, not universal.
Fellowships
A funded bridge role between graduation and your bar results, hosted at a legal aid office.
Who it’s for: 3Ls and recent graduates awaiting exam results.
Rule 9.42 practice
Certified law students appear in court under supervision, months before they're licensed.
Who it’s for: 2Ls and 3Ls who want courtroom experience now.
Rural placements
Relocation support and housing stipends for fellows willing to serve underserved counties.
Who it’s for: Students open to Central Valley, rural north, or Inland Empire postings.
Post-bar staff roles
Direct hiring pipelines into permanent staff attorney positions after you're licensed.
Who it’s for: Bar-passed grads ready for a full caseload.
A typical fellowship cycle
Sep 2026
Info sessions
Statewide webinars introducing the 2026–27 fellowship cycle.
Oct 2026
Applications open
Students submit interests, skills, and county preferences.
Jan 2027
Matching
LAAC facilitates introductions between fellows and host organizations.
Feb 2027
Offers extended
Host legal aid organizations extend fellowship offers.
Jul 2027
Bar exam blackout
Fellows pause active casework to sit for the California Bar.
Aug 2027
Return to host
Fellows resume full casework, often transitioning to staff roles.
Typical fellowship terms
Terms vary by host organization. These figures describe a common arrangement, not a guarantee.
- Stipend
- $16,000
- Hours
- ~400 hours
- Duration
- 6 months
- Host overhead
- $1,500
Ready to see where you fit?
Answer a few questions and we'll surface fellowships matched to your interests and counties.