PIJD News
Three Public Interest JD Selected as John Paul Stevens Foundation 2026 Fellows
This year, six Santa Clara Law students were awarded Stevens Fellowships, with three of those recipients coming from the PIJD Program - Tyler Hawes, Trinity Chung and Rachel Nishimoto. The fellowship provides funding for students to complete full-time summer work with organizations dedicated to serving the public interest, while also connecting fellows to a national network of future public service leaders.
Named in honor of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the fellowship recognizes law students who have demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and the pursuit of justice. Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process and spend their summers working on issues ranging from civil rights and access to justice to environmental protection, immigrant advocacy, and criminal legal reform.
The selection of three PIJD students reflects the program's mission of preparing future attorneys to use their legal education in service of others. Through a combination of academic coursework, mentorship, field placements, and community engagement, PIJD students develop the skills and values necessary to make a meaningful impact in the public interest sector.
We congratulate our Stevens Fellows on this remarkable achievement and look forward to seeing the contributions they make this summer and throughout their legal careers.