Justice Initiative Guiding Student Activists Worldwide

“Achieving Justice Piece by Piece”

The JIGSAW Fellowship offers a specialized corps of law students training to advise undergraduates in combating anti-Semitism on campus. Despite the rise of anti-Semitism on campus, most students do not understand how to utilize university policies or state and federal anti-discrimination laws as tools to combat anti-Semitism. Most students are unable to effectively articulate the contemporary forms of anti-Semitism, including anti-Zionism, even when they routinely face them on campus and in the classroom. Often, students are reluctant to reach out for assistance from school administrators or legal organizations. JIGSAW Fellows ensure that students have access to the legal training, guidance, and support they need to understand their rights on college campuses.

JIGSAW Fellows attend a rigorous, two-day session where they will:

• Meet members of their JIGSAW cohort
• Learn about Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, anti-discrimination laws, relevant First Amendment principles, the parameters of the principles of academic freedom, and discreet topics in international law
• Train in how to conduct intake interviews

Fellows will also have the opportunity to:

• Work with Brandeis Center staff to provide support to undergraduate and graduate students experiencing anti-Semitism
• Participate in client and witness interviews by taking notes, asking questions, and performing follow-up research
• Meet via Zoom with an affiliated organization for Jewish undergraduate students to help students on dozens of campuses across the country
• Assist with legal research for Brandeis Center attorneys, as schedules permit

Through the JIGSAW Fellowship, trained law students are empowered to mentor undergraduate peers on their own campus, helping them more effectively address contemporary forms of anti-Semitism. Fellows help achieve justice piece by piece, developing the next generation of civil rights attorneys with first-hand experience. The fellowship not only teaches the necessary legal tools to combat anti-Semitism, but also instills the motivation to remain engaged, effective advocates even after graduating law school.

JIGSAW Fellows are competitively selected based on academic record, extracurricular involvement, and a demonstrated commitment to the issues. Interested candidates should complete the application below, including uploading a resume, transcript, and writing sample.