Description
The Lindsay Fellowship program is an intensive nine-week summer legal program hosted at the U.S. District Court in Boston for approximately six – eight college students interested in law. During the first month, Fellows participate in a legal research and writing course, intern in a judge's chambers, and participate in various additional activities to support their learning. During the second month of the program, each Fellow is assigned to either the United States Attorney's Office, the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office, or the Federal Public Defender Office where it is expected they will use the skills learned during the first month of the Fellowship. The students then return to chambers for a week, during which time they work with the legal research and writing instructor to prepare for a moot court (motion) argument before a federal judge. It is expected that the students will have drafted the pleadings being argued as part of their legal research and writing instruction.
The Lindsay Fellowship, which began in 2010, is in honor of the late Judge Reginald C. Lindsay, the second African-American appointed to the District of Massachusetts. The program is intended for students who plan on attending law school and aims to help prepare them for their first year. To learn more about the program please see the Lindsay website and the 2025 newsletter.
The 2026 Lindsay Fellowship is currently set to run from June 8 to August 6, 2026. The legal research and writing course will be held throughout June 2026, with additional moot (motion) court preparation during the first week of August. Instruction should begin with an overview of the judicial system and should cover legal research, writing, reasoning, and oral argument.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Teaches legal research and writing course for undergraduate students interested in law school;
- Works in coordination with the program's overseeing judges, student coordinators and program coordinator on curriculum and logistics;
- Reviews the role of the judicial system, including review of the three branches of government, the structure of the federal and state court systems (covering jurisdiction), federal jurisdiction and the difference between criminal and civil law, stare decisis and precedent;
- Develops persuasive writing assignments and provides individual feedback on students' work;
- Prepares students for concepts they will encounter in the first year of law school, including but not limited to:
- writing for accuracy, clarity and readability;
- the “anatomy of a case” (procedural history, issue, rule of law, reasoning and holding);
- how a case moves through the courts until resolution;
- how to understand precedent and reasoning by analogy;
- conducting research using LexisNexis and Westlaw;
- how to write a legal memo using, CREAC, TREAC or REAC;
- how to write a motion;
- Bluebooking; and
- making a case at oral argument.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
Candidates must have a J.D. degree and be admitted to the bar. A background in teaching at the undergraduate, and/or law school level is highly preferred. Current legal research and writing professors, law clerks or other attorneys with prior teaching or facilitation experience are welcomed.
Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to be flexible with scheduling, and a passion for teaching undergraduate students is essential.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To apply, please submit all of the following documents together as one single PDF:
1. A letter of interest (with June 2026 availability provided)
2. A current resume
3. Sample research and writing assignments, if available.
4. Any additional materials you would like to include to demonstrate your qualifications
Please send your application to: Caleb_Houston@mad.uscourts.gov (Project Coordinator, USDC-MA)
*This is a one summer position with a possibility of continuation into future summers.
**Although the Fellowship Committee will continue to review applications until the position is filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by January 30, 2026.
