The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is hiring three to five Constitutional Law Fellows to join our team defending religious freedom for people of all faiths. This is a one-year fellowship opportunity. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis starting in October for positions beginning in August or September of the following year. 

Who are we?  

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all faiths. Founded in 1994, Becket has grown into the nation’s premier religious liberty law firm, with an undefeated record at the U.S. Supreme Court—thirteen consecutive wins over the last fifteen years, six of them unanimous. Nearly half of all Supreme Court victories for religious freedom over the past decade have been Becket cases. 

Our clients reflect the full breadth of American religious life: we have defended a Muslim prisoner’s right to grow a beard, Western Apache families fighting to save a sacred site, Catholic nuns, Jewish families, and people of every tradition in between. We litigate the hardest and most consequential religious liberty questions in the country, and we win because of a focused strategy, careful case selection, and a deep bench of talent drawn from top law firms, academia, and the clerkship ranks.  

What is the Constitutional Law Fellowship?  

Becket’s Constitutional Law Fellowship gives exceptional recent law clerks and law school graduates immediate, hands-on experience litigating cutting-edge religious liberty cases. Under the mentorship of experienced Becket attorneys, Fellows participate in all aspects of trial and appellate litigation, gaining valuable experience in litigation strategy, research, writing, and oral advocacy. While experiences vary depending on need, previous Fellows have drafted portions of Supreme Court and appellate briefs, argued motions before federal judges, and conducted media interviews for cases.   

The Fellowship is also an excellent steppingstone to government service, private practice, the academy, or public interest law. Former Fellows have accepted employment with top-tier law firms, in sought-after federal and state government posts, with other non-profit public interest firms, and in the legal academy.   

Who should apply?  

The ideal candidate will have: 

• A demonstrated commitment to religious liberty for people of all faiths  

• A federal appellate or district court clerkship, or equivalent substantive litigation experience (appellate preferred) 

• Strong research, writing, and oral advocacy skills  

Compensation & benefits:  

$100,000 plus a competitive benefits package, including top-tier healthcare fully funded by Becket. This is a good-faith estimate that may vary depending on a candidate’s circumstances and experiences. 

How to apply:  

Email the following to Meg Schilling at [email protected]:  

• Cover letter describing your interest in Becket and your commitment to religious liberty  

• Resume  

• Writing sample  

• Law school transcript  

• List of three references  

Timeline:  

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis starting in October for positions beginning in August or September of the following year. 

Becket is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.