Open Horizon DCALF Heirs Property & Estate Planning Fellowship

2026-2028 Open Horizon DCALF Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellowship

Are you passionate about advancing access to justice? Do you want to gain hands-on experience as a probate and estate planning attorney—helping families preserve intergenerational homes, build wealth, and take control of their legacies through proactive planning? Are you eager to join a dynamic, mission-driven organization that values client-centered advocacy and fosters a culture of learning and growth?

If so, the Open Horizon Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellowship at DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF) may be the perfect opportunity for you.

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At DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF), we believe income should never be a barrier to justice. Founded in 2015 by volunteers to help close access to justice gaps in the District of Columbia, DCALF serves an expansive range of hardworking DC residents unable to afford market-based legal services, including modest-income residents who fall between eligibility for free legal services and the ability to afford private counsel and low-income residents navigating unmet legal needs. Through innovative programming and a commitment to equity, we deliver no cost and low-cost legal services in family law, probate, estate planning, and immigration, ensuring historically underserved clients can navigate life’s most challenging legal issues with skilled legal representation.

Across the past decade, DCALF has grown exponentially—from grassroots beginnings to a $4.2 million organization with a staff of 30, a strong network of volunteers and pro bono partners, and serving more than 450 clients annually, with hundreds more annually engaged through community education and outreach. Our award-winning annual fellowship programs further our mission by launching the careers of recent law graduates, equipping them to become dedicated public interest attorneys and lifelong champions for justice.

DCALF is one of two nonprofit legal services organizations leading the District of Columbia’s inaugural Heirs’ Property Assistance Program, providing vital probate advice and representation to individuals navigating the complex, multi-phase process of clearing title to property after the death of a loved one. Through this initiative—and DCALF’s expanded probate practice—we help families preserve intergenerational homes, secure rightful homeownership, and access the assets and belongings left behind by loved ones.

In addition to probate support, DCALF offers free, proactive estate planning services designed to empower individuals and families to protect their health, wealth, and legacy. Our estate planning practice challenges the notion that these tools are only for the wealthy—ensuring that all DC residents can memorialize their wishes and prevent future heirs’ property complications.

Since its founding in 2015, DCALF has launched the careers of over 60 passionate, diverse public interest attorneys through its Signature Fellowship Program and partnerships with Georgetown University Law Center and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. The Open Horizon DCALF Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellowship continues this proud tradition, offering a unique, two-year post-graduate opportunity for an alumnus of Howard University School of Law’s Estate Planning and Heirs’ Property Clinical Program. The Open Horizon Heirs’ Property and Estates Planning Fellow will gain deep, hands-on experience in probate and estate planning law while making a meaningful contribution to DCALF’s mission of expanding access to justice for modest- and low-income DC residents. The second cycle of this fellowship will begin in late September 2026 and run through September 2028, overlapping for one year with the inaugural Open Horizon Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellow.

Position Overview

The Open Horizon Heirs’ Property & Estate Planning Fellow will play a vital role in expanding access to justice in probate and estate planning matters for modest- and lower-income DC residents. As a member of DCALF’s twelve-person Probate & Estate Planning Team, the Fellow will provide direct legal representation, advice, and advocacy for clients navigating probate and estate planning challenges.

This work will primarily involve representing personal representatives in probating the estates of deceased loved ones, drafting proactive estate plans to help community members prepare for incapacity or death, and assisting heirs and other interested parties with estate administration. The Fellow will also lead and participate in community outreach and education efforts to raise awareness about probate, heirs’ property, and the tools available to avoid unnecessary legal barriers—empowering residents to protect their homes, assets, and legacies.  In addition, the position offers opportunities to conduct legal research on emerging issues in heirs’ property, probate, and estate planning, contributing to broader advocacy and reform efforts in this growing field.

For consideration, an applicant must be an alumnus of Howard University School of Law’s Estate Planning and Heirs’ Property Clinic, with at least one semester of clinical experience, and demonstrate a strong commitment—and willingness to build expertise—in probate and estate planning law.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to be on the frontlines of an evolving area of public interest law, working to preserve intergenerational homes, protect family wealth, and promote economic justice for historically underserved DC communities.

The Open Horizon Fellow will receive thoughtful supervision, ongoing mentorship, and meaningful opportunities for both independent work and collaboration. The ideal candidate is highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage time-sensitive tasks independently and with minimal oversight. They must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to interview and engage with clients from diverse backgrounds with empathy, cultural humility, and professionalism. A deep commitment to racial, social, and economic justice is essential.

The Fellow will carry a full caseload, maintain accurate timekeeping and case records in accordance with DCALF policies, and actively participate in team case rounds and staff meetings. They will also help refine and strengthen organizational procedures and report directly to the Managing Attorney of DCALF’s Probate & Estate Planning Team.

This job description is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position, management reserves the right to revise the position or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned to be responsive to the needs of our client community and DCALF’s overarching practice and organizational needs. DC Bar membership is required; if graduating in May 2026, the Open Horizon Fellow must take the July 2026 DC Bar prior to the start of the Fellowship.

Compensation 

An Open Horizon DCALF Fellow graduating from the JD Class of 2026 will receive a minimum salary of $59,000 annually pre-DC Bar passage, increasing to $60,000/year in the first year of the fellowship following DC Bar passage; this annual salary will increase to a minimum of $64,000/year for the second year of this two-year fellowship. Fellows with a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written Spanish will also receive an additional $2,500 of annual compensation each year during their participation in the Fellowship program, following Bar passage.

DCALF offers a 401(K) retirement plan with 3% match, full payment of DC Bar examination and Character and Fitness fees for first-time exam takers, payment of DC Bar Dues for this fellowship’s second year, Medical insurance and elective dental and vision insurance options, generous paid leave, winter break closure (Christmas – New Year’s), Thanksgiving break, and all Federal and local holidays, paid parental/family leave through the DC Paid Family Leave Program, and ongoing training opportunities.  Through employment with DCALF, Fellows may also be eligible to participate in the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) offered through the DC Bar Foundation (DCBF). The DCBF’s LRAP provides one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans of up to $12,000 per year to qualified attorneys. 

About Open Horizon

Open Horizon Fellows have access to benefits beyond those offered by the hosting organization, DC Affordable Law Firm. Open Horizon is a family foundation offering optional support opportunities that fellows and interns may choose to engage in and take advantage of for personal and professional growth. Programming includes and is not limited to optional webinars presented by Open Horizon and/or its other partner organizations, options for use of supplemental funding for professional subscriptions (if not offered by the hosting organization), encouraging recognition of punctuated milestones along the fellowship, and an opportunity to connect with Open Horizon leadership to share about the fellowship and their career goals. In past years, Open Horizon has been pleased to coordinate information interviews for interns and fellows and make introductions where applicable for those who are job seeking.

More information about Open Horizon’s benefits and offerings is available at the onset of each calendar year. Current partners hosting Open Horizon fellows and interns include National Health Law Program, Council for Court Excellence, American Indian College Fund, DC Justice Lab, The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, and – as of 2025 – DC Affordable Law Firm and Tzedek DC.

Open Horizon realizes the many benefits of investing in BIPOC fellows and interns, as barriers to equitable access to education and opportunity remain salient in our US social systems and impactful to scholars and emerging leaders of color.  Open Horizon Fellowships offer participating fellows the opportunity to learn about the sector, the role/position, how to engage appropriately, authentically, and effectively in an office community, and gain several tangible skills as they realize their passion’s ability to contribute to lasting community and societal change.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply by submitting a cover letter, resume, transcript, three-page writing sample, and list of three professional references. Applications must be received no later than 11:59 pm on Monday, September 15, 2025. No calls will be accepted regarding this posting, though questions may be directed to [email protected].

DCALF will convene a virtual information session for Howard Law students on Monday, September 4, 2025, from 12:30-1:30 pm, for prospective applicants to hear from DCALF practitioners and ask questions of the panelists regarding this unique Fellowship opportunity.  Students can access this virtual session by visiting https://bit.ly/DCALF2026FellowshipOH at the time of the session or contact Molefi McIntosh or Valerie Schneider at Howard University School of Law with questions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

DC Affordable Law Firm is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. DCALF strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex (specifically including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, unhoused status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation political affiliation, tobacco use, credit information, status as unemployed, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.