About the Job

The University of Minnesota Law School’s Clemency Project is seeking applicants who are recent law graduates for the Hassan & Nazie Nemazee Clemency Fellowship. The fellowship will begin in August 2026 and is a two-year commitment.

The Clemency Project advocates for a humane criminal justice system that diverts individuals from the conviction process, provides “second look” opportunities for those serving excessive sentences, and mitigates the long-term impact of a criminal record. It is an integrated program, involving individual representation, impact litigation, policy advocacy and research that connects law students directly to the human realities of mass incarceration. The Project also explores issues relating to the quality of incarceration.

The Fellow will work with and report to the director of the Clemency Project. The position requires on-site physical presence at the Clemency Project Clinic but also allows for a portion of the work to be done remotely.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the mentorship of the director of the Clemency Project, the Clinic Fellow will provide direct legal representation to prisoners and those seeking relief from the consequences of their convictions, and assist in the supervision of law students providing such representation. Additional responsibilities or opportunities that the Fellow is likely to engage with include publishing practitioner oriented or scholarly articles; conducting empirical research; developing outreach strategies and educational material; coordinating impact litigation projects; drafting legislation, regulations and/or comments for legislators and policymakers; providing guidance and feedback to students; assist in teaching clinic seminar sessions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: J.D. degree from an A.B.A. accredited law school. Applicants must have at least one year of experience as a practicing lawyer (and ideally three years) and must be licensed to practice law in at least one state.