Amplified Voices
Legal Fellowship Program
The Amplified Voices Legal Fellowship (AVLF) Program is a full-time legal fellowship program for High School aged students. Fellows are paired with a Chicago Attorney or Judge for a six week, full-time, work assignment. The AVLF Program provides fellows with job training, and experience to encourage fellows to envision themselves as powerful catalysts in Chicago's justice system. AVLF fellows will participate in court visits, legal research & writing assignments, mentorship from local civic leaders and more. Equipped with this knowledge, Fellows will understand their power to influence the judicial system to the benefit of their communities. Applications for the 2026 cohort will open April 13th, 2026. Applications must be submitted by end of day, May 4th, 2026.
Fellowship, Eligibility, and Expectations
The Amplified Voices Legal Fellowship will extend from June 22nd to July 31st, 2026. Fellows will spend 6 - weeks, working full time at a local law firm or judge's chambers. Fellows will earn a $1500 stipend and receive supplemental supports including, but not limited to, mentoring, lunch allowance, two group field trips and professional coaching. In addition to their full-time work assignments, fellows will participate in weekly lunch & learns, and a mock trial.
Eligibility Requirements
Ideal applicants are high school aged students with competitive GPAs beginning at 2.5. The average GPA of a successful applicant is about a 3.5. Preference is given to those students that have connection to south and west side communities. Competitive candidates will have strong communication/ writing skills and have shown some leadership skills in community or school activities.
Application Documents
The application features two writing exercises, a resume and cover letter. Applicants must also participate in a virtual interview. The application also requires the submission of two letters of recommendation from either academic instructors, extra curricular coaches, community leaders, or employers. Applicants are encouraged to be creative and show off their writing skills in their application. Writing exercises and recommendation letters are heavily weighted. Additionally with only 6 fellowship slots to available, we encourage applicants to use school and library resources to prepare for the interview.
Student Commitment
Students considering the Amplified Voices Legal Fellowship should be ready to commit to having an open mind, engaging respectfully with all program staff/ participants, and utilizing the resources provided by Amplified Voices and our community partners thoughtfully. Students should be committed to learning and having fun while doing so.
Parent Commitment
We expect parents and/or guardians to commit to assisting their student wherever possible. Parents are expected to provide a safe space for their students to unwind from the new experiences they will have as legal fellows. Finally, parents should commit to communicating with Amplified Voices Staff; we want parents to feel comfortable voicing any concerns, offering suggestions, and/or building rapport with us.