The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office has been selected as a host office for the 2021 Public Rights Project Fellowship—a two-year program for attorneys interested in launching a public service career. Under the partnership, an attorney fellow will be placed in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, and will be charged with spearheading the creation of an economic crimes division.
The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office was one of just 8 government offices from across the country to be selected for the fellowship.
Public Rights Project is a national organization that bridges the gap between the laws on the books and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. In the midst of an ongoing public health crisis, fellows will find ways their offices can help residents respond and recover, from workers facing unsafe workplace conditions to tenants facing down discrimination and expiring eviction moratoriums.
Once selected, the Public Rights Project fellow will be charged with helping to launch an Economic Crimes division in the Prosecutor’s Office. Among other things, the Economic Crimes Division will focus on combatting wage theft, corporate abuse, and consumer protection abuses. The Public Rights Project fellow will also bolster the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office’s civil litigation and advocacy capacity, including through the development of amicus briefs on state and national issues.
“The people of Washtenaw County elected me to reimagine the work of the local prosecutor, and being chosen to host a fellow is a key component of transforming our work,” Savit said. “I know that our office can do more to protect consumers and workers from abuse. Through our partnership with Public Rights Project, we can build a first-of-its-kind economic crimes unit to stand up for workers and consumers here in the county and throughout Michigan.”
Attorneys with at least 3-5 years of legal experience are encouraged to apply for the Public Rights Project fellowship. Ideal candidates will possess an active bar membership, a passion for moving the needle towards justice, a background in litigation, and a demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizations.
Prospective fellows can apply for the fellowship at https://www.publicrightsproject.org/prp-apply. The application will be open until May 25, 2021.